Killeen find form to win the latest Battle of Arles

Arles-Killeen 2-15 Arles Kilcruise 0-12
Laois Shopping Centre SFC Round 2

A devastating second quarter from Arles-Killeen, when they outscored Arles-Kilcruise by 2-5 to 0-2, was the crucial period in the latest battle between these two – as they advance to Round 3 of the Laois SFC and the losers go into the relegation playoffs for the third time in four years.

The sides were level at 0-4 apiece at the first water break but the crucial moment came shortly after the restart.

The sin-binning of Chris Conway for a late shoulder on Shane Julian was a big moment.

Paul Kingston had just put Killeen ahead with his second point but straight from the restart, Killeen got the game’s first goal when a Donie Kingston effort for a point dropped short and over the head of Dermot Nolan and into the net.

Conor Keightley added a point soon after and then Sean O’Shea hit 1-1 in quick succession – the goal a brilliant finish after a lovely pass in from Donie Brenan, just on the field as a sub for the badly injured Dermot Julian.

By the time Conway got back onto the field and Kilcruise back to 15, they trailed by nine points.

Ross Munnelly from a free and a third from the very impressive David Conway pulled a couple of scoes back for Kilcruise but Paul and Donie Kingston were both on form and they cancelled them out each time.

At the break, Killeen led 2-9 to 0-6. It was Killeen’s to lose.

And they maintained that advantage for the most part of the second half with the two Kingstons and Jason Enright finding the range and a solid defensive performance meant that a big comeback was never on.

A bad day got even worse for Kilcruise in the 56th minute when David Conway got a straight red card for an off the ball clash with James Mahon.

SCORERS – Arles-Killeen: Donie Kingston 1-5, Sean O’Shea 1-1, Paul Kingston 0-4, Conor Keightley 0-2, Jason Enright 0-2 (one free), Ian Scully 0-1. Arles-Kilcruise: David Conway 0-5, Ross Munnelly 0-4 (one free), Chris Conway 0-1 (free), Caomhan Brennan 0-1, Chris O’Donovan 0-1

ARLES-KILLEEN: Michael Leigh; Dermot Julian, Niall O’Rourke, James Mahon; John Mahon, Shane Julian, Enda O’Rourke; Donie Kingston, Joe Mahon; Oisin Byrne, Sean O’Shea, Conor Keightley; Jason Enright, Ian Scully, Paul Kingston. Sub: Donie Brennan for D Julian (injured – 22), Gerry McWey for Byrne (62), Paul McDonald for Scully (62)

ARLES-KILCRUISE: Dermot Nolan; Cialann Mulhall, PJ Lawlor, Conall Brennan; JP Conway, Alan McLoughlin, Sean Meaney; Mark Wall, Kevin Meaney; Francis Egan, David Conway, Caomhan Brennan; Ross Munnelly, Chris O’Donovan, Chris Conway. Subs: Anthony McElroy for McLoughlin (half time), Liam Whelan for O’Donovan (40), Kevin O’Neill for Egan (44), Brendan Conway for C Conway (45)

REFEREE: Seamus Mulhare (The Heath)

SEE ALSO – Check out all our Laois SFC coverage here

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