Excitement is building ahead of Friday’s Laois Shopping Centre Intermediate football championship final.
Arles-Kilcruise and Park-Ratheniska will go head to head for a place in the 2026 Laois SFC.
This is Arles-Kilcruise’s first appearance in the final since 2022 where they were beaten by The Heath.
Ahead of the showdown, we took a trip deep into Kilcruise heartland and visited Arles National School.
This is the place where many of the current team underwent their primary education.
Arles NS currently had 52 students spread across three mainstream classrooms and one special class.
They have five teachers, four Special Needs Assistants, a secretary, a caretaker and they all work under Annette Fitzpatrick who is the principal.
Among the students, there are plenty of connections to the current panel.
Ben Slattery’s brother Jamie Walsh is in the senior room while so too is Darragh Kealy’s brother Colm.
Mick O’Shea’s daughters Emily and Aoibheann can be found in the middle room while the Conway clan are scattered between the three rooms.
Grace Conway is manager James’ daughter while Chris Conway’s son Senan is also present.
Brendan Conway’s sons Ben and James plus daughter Kate also attend Arles NS.
It is certain to be a lively week for Brendan as he is a teacher in Ratheniska NS.
While Aidan, Emma and Anna Conway are all children of John P Conway.
Check out some great pictures from our visit below:
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