Arles-Killeen 2-7 The Heath 0-11
ACFL Division 1B Semi-final
A late goal from Paul Kingston sent Arles-Killeen through to the 2021 Laois ACFL Division 1B Final on a glorious evening at The Heath.
This was a real physical encounter in which The Heath will probably feel they should have won as their compact defence held firm for the most part.
However it was Killeen who settled a little bit better and after missing out on an early goal, Paul Kingston registered two points from play inside the opening five minutes.
With Brian Ging dropping back as a sweeper and an army of bodies back when not in possession, the hosts began to settle and points from Dylan Kavanagh and Robert Ging along with three more from Conor Booth were matched only by a Donie Kingston free.
As the end of the opening quarter was on the horizon, Killeen won themselves a penalty after Donie Brennan hit the deck and the older of the Kingston brothers was on hand to tuck it away. But Conor Booth’s third effort from play ensured it was level at the water break on a scoreline of 0-6 to 1-3.
The Heath hit the front again immediately after this when Booth added another free, but then they were dealt a major blow when influential midfielder Jimmy Nerney landed awkwardly after rising high for a kick out and a leg injury meant he would play no further part.
Killeen were dealt a blow of their own when Sean O’Shea also had to come off with a niggly injury, but his side tacked on two more scores from the boot of Donie Kingston from placed balls and at half time the sides were level again with Andrew Booth making it The Heath 0-8, Arles Killeen 1-5.
The third quarter is where The Heath probably left this one behind as they shot five wides with a breeze relatively in their favour and in general this was a poor period of the game with both sides only managing a score apiece.
The first of those was a Donie Kingston free which came twelve minutes in and as the second water break arrived on the 48 minute mark, PJ Daly made sure it was still level with a point just before hand.
Conor Booth and Jason Enright bartered frees as the game trickled into the last five minutes and when sub Andrew Thornton knocked over a point it looked like The Heath might hold on for a one point win.
However Paul Kingston had other ideas and his low drive found the bottom left corner and all of a sudden Killeen were two points to the good.
It must be noted that despite a few injuries in the second half there didn’t appear to be much time added on if any but in the end it’s Arles Killeen who have progressed to meet either Killeshin or Emo in the decider.
SCORERS – Arles-Killeen: Donie Kingston 1-4, (1-0 pen, 0-4 frees), Paul Kingston 1-2, Jason Enright 0-1 (0-1 free) The Heath: Conor Booth 0-6 (0-3 frees), Dylan Kavanagh 0-1, Robert Ging 0-1, Andrew Booth 0-1, PJ Daly 0-1, Aaron Thornton 0-1
ARLES-KILLEEN: Ciaran Bizell; Niall O’Rourke, James Mahon, Cathal Moran O’Brien; Michael Wall, Shane Julian, Enda O’Rourke; Donie Kingston, John Mahon; Conor Keightley, Sean O’Shea, Dermot Julian; Donie Brennan, Paul Kingston, Colin Dunne. Subs: Jason Enright for O’Shea (21 inj)
THE HEATH: Joe Walsh; Gary Roe, Mark Dowling, Alan Whelan; Gareth O’Brien, Ciaran Booth, Robbie Dowling; Jimmy Nerney, PJ Daly; Dylan Kavanagh, Conor Booth, Neil Keane; Robert Ging, Andrew Booth, Brian Ging. Subs: Andrew Thornton for Nerney (19 inj), Cathal Whelan for A Booth (48)
REFEREE: John Flynn (The Rock)
SEE ALSO – Check out all the rest of the weekend GAA coverage here
The post Late Paul Kingston goal sends Arles-Killeen to Division 1B final appeared first on Laois Today.
source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2021/07/24/late-paul-kingston-goal-sends-arles-killeen-to-division-1b-final/
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