Park/Ratheniska are crowned 2025 Intermediate champions

Shopping Centre Intermediate Football Championship Final 

 Park/Ratheniska 3-10 

Arles Kilcruise 0-10 

UNDER the Friday night lights of Laois Hire O’Moore Park, Park/Ratheniska hit the ground running in the Intermediate Football Championship final and never looked back. Early points from Cian Nolan and Jimmy Langton set the tone before goals from Nolan and Padraig Dunne gave them a commanding lead at half-time.

Arles Kilcruise battled bravely in the second half, with Ross Munnelly keeping them in touch, but Park/Ratheniska always had the answers. A late Kieran Delaney goal sealed the result as Park/Ratheniska claimed Intermediate honours and booked their place in the 2026 senior championship.

Park/Ratheniska were full steam ahead from the first minute when Richie Hitchcock found Kieran Delaney but a shot from Tom Fingleton was cleared by the boot of Simon George. Cian Nolan pointed the opening score of the game only a minute later, quickly followed by Jimmy Langton splitting the posts.

Hitchcock skipped through the Arles Kilcruise defence once again finding Delaney, but the ball was drilled wide. Langton followed up with a second point from play. Calum McElroy registered Arles Kilcruise’s first point of the game after nine minutes but Park/Ratheniska responded adding a further 1-1 to the board. James Connolly pointed while Cian Nolan rattled the back of the net.

Ross Munnelly opened his account pointing from a placed ball. Arles Kilcruise had a fantastic opportunity to bring the game back to within a point when the ball was spilled by Park/Ratheniska coming from the defence at pace and Arles Kilcruise had two free men inside but an effort from Kevin Meaney went to the left and wide.

Park/Ratheniska finished the stronger of the sides as Brian Dunne raised an orange flag from play while his brother, Padraig Dunne found the back of George’s net for a second goal putting nine between the sides at the break, 2-6 to 0-3.

Munnelly pointed a free to get the second half underway while Delaney replied down the other end before Munnelly pointed his first from play. Conway fired over a two-point free which left only the goals separating the sides heading into the final quarter.

After Arles Kilcruise dominated possession, Connolly broke the streak when he pointed his second of the contest, this time from a placed ball while Ben Slattery replied for Arles Kilcruise raising their second orange flag of the half.

Nolan pointed his second after he played a one-two with Noah Fingleton. Munnelly pointed a free for Arles Kilcruise which remained their final score of the game. Langton went on a super run and found Delaney who drove the ball across the line before Langton went flying once again and secured a third and final point for himself. The three goals were the difference in the end as Park/Ratheniska sealed Intermediate success and will compete in the 2026 Senior Championship.

SCORERS:

Park/Ratheniska: Cian Nolan 1-2, Kieran Delaney 1-1, Padraig Dunne 1-0, Jimmy Langton 0-3, James Connolly (0-1f) and Brian Dunne (two-pointer) 0-2 each.

Arles Kilcruise: Ross Munnelly 0-4 (0-3fs), David Conway (1 two-point free) 0-3, Ben Slattery (two-pointer) 0-2, Calum McElroy 0-1.

PARK/RATHENISKA: Cathal Tierney; James Newell, Colm Brennan, Brendan Greene; Richie Hitchcock, Rian McEntee, Jimmy Langton; Padraig Dunne, Killian O’Connor; Noah Fingleton, Cian Nolan, Tom Fingleton; James Connolly, Brian Dunne, Kieran Delaney.

Subs: Sean Tierney for Fingleton (57m), DJ O'Connell for Connolly (60m), Peter Conroy for Greene (62m).

ARLES KILCRUISE: Simon George; Ethan Mackey, Conal Brennan, Cialann Mulhall; Conor George, PJ Lawlor, Ben Slattery; David Lawlor, Kevin Meaney; Calum McElroy, Jack Behan, Dylan Water; Ross Munnelly, David Conway, Aodhan Lowry.

Subs: Eoin Mulhall for Water (8m, inj), Caomhán Brennan for Lowry (40m), Luke Donohue for D Lawlor (55m), Darragh Kealy for Conal Brennan (59m), Darragh Murphy for Slattery (62m).

Referee: Des Cooney (St Joseph's)