Leinster Club SF Quarter-final / Arles Kilcruise 1-9 O'Hanrahans 1-8: Arles-Kilcruise, having won the Laois championship on Saturday, sprang a surprise when they eliminated favourites O'Hanrahans of Carlow in a highly exciting AIB Leinster football championship quarter-final at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, yesterday.
Just as the new Laois champions were crowned after a one-point win over Stradbally on Saturday they also gained victory by the slightest of margins in yesterday's game.
The win over O'Hanrahan's completed a fairytale weekend for the club from near the Carlow border which was formed a mere nine years ago.
Laois county star Ross Munnelly proved the game's outstanding figure. He unsettled the O'Hanrahans defence and kicked five of his side's points, four from frees and the other a superb effort from play.
The Carlow champions got off to an ideal start with a punched goal after just three minutes from half forward Davy Walker.
O'Hanrahans had, in fact, looked like all-out winners for most of the game, but were undone eventually by virtue of the fact that they shot 14 wides over the hour while their opponents missed the target on only four occasions.
Just on half-time, with O'Hanrahans 1-5 to 0-1 in front, Arles struck for a well-taken goal from full forward Kevin Kealy, following fine approach-play work by Munnelly and Anthony McElroy.
Munnelly kicked a fine point from play early in the second half to cut the leeway back to just three points.
O'Hanrahans increased their lead to five points on 40 minutes with a brace of points from Brian Walker, both from frees.
With the scoreboard reading 1-7 to 1-2 at that stage of the game it appeared as though the Carlow town side were about to deliver its expected victory.
Surprisingly, however, it was Arles Kilcruise who got stronger from there on in. They dominated the final 20 minutes of the game and shattered the composure and confidence of the former Leinster champions.
With Munnelly constantly causing panic along the O'Hanrahans' left side of defence, the scores started to flow for the Laois men.
They trailed 1-8 to 1-4 by the 48th minute but an unanswered series of points from Chris Conway, Brendan Conroy and two converted frees from Ross Munnelly tied the game.
At that stage a replay looked the likely outcome, but, making one last supreme effort, the leg weary Laois champions gained midfield possession and forced O'Hanrahans into conceding a vital 45-metre free which Chris Conway converted expertly to send the travelling supporters into rapture.
It completed a fantastic comeback by this inexperienced Arles Kilcruise side who will now meet Round Towers of Kildare next weekend in the provincial semi-final.
ARLES KILCRUISE: C Munnelly; M O'Shea, E Mulhall, M Mooney; JP Conway, F Tully, A McElroy; J Conway, J Wall; R Munnelly (0-5, four frees), S Carroll, C Conway (0-2, both frees); JM McDonald (0-1), K Kealy (1-0), L Wall. Subs: D Conway for Kealy, E Mooney for M Mooney, B Conway (0-1) for L Wall.
O'HANRAHANS: J Brennan; V English, N English, T Smith; W Kinsella, K Walker, K Kavanagh; A Kavanagh, P Nolan; D Walker (1-2, one free), M Carpenter (0-3), B English; B Walker (0-3, one free), R Walker, G Walker. Subs: D Bermingham for K Kavanagh, P Kavanagh for G Walker.
Referee: S Doyle (Wexford)
