End to Banner Ladies’ Munster campaign

Sliabh Luachra (Kerry) 4-15 Banner Ladies 0-11

The writing was on the wall for Banner Ladies at half time when they trailed the Kerry champions by seven points in this Munster Senior B Championship final in Askeaton last Saturday.
Sliabh Luachra had defeated Ballymacarby of Waterford in the semi-final and with players the calibre of Aoife Lyons, Lorraine Scanlon, Aisling Leonard, Elaine O’Connor, Margaret O’Donoghue and Mary O’Keeffe in their starting line-up, they were always going to be difficult to beat. On Monday of this week Leonard, Scanlon and O’Donoghue were named as All-Star nominees.
The Castleisland-Scaraglin outfit scored 3-13 from play over the hour and got the opening score courtesy of a Leanne Mangan point. Banner replied with points from Naomi Carroll and a Niamh O’Dea long-range free but this turned out to be the only time in the match that the Clare club held the lead.
Midfielder Lorraine Scanlon and corner-forward Mary O’Keeffe, with a point apiece, equalised before Emma O’Driscoll saved brilliantly from Elaine O’Connor. Once the impressive full forward Margaret O’Donoghue pointed her side ahead in the tenth minute, Sliabh Luachra maintained the lead.
Centre-forward Elaine O’Connor had her side’s first goal in the 13th when she expertly finished a move after her side had created an overlap. Their second goal was scored by Mary Herlihy and at half-time, Sliabh Luachra retired 2-8 to 0-7 ahead. Banner’s remaining first half points came from Sonya Maher and four from Niamh O’Dea, two of which were from play.
Banner Ladies needed a good start to the second half but it was Sliabh Luachra who pushed further ahead with three unanswered points. Banner did reply with three from Maher, Carroll and O’Dea but they were cancelled out by points from Elaine O’Carroll (2) and Margaret O’Donoghue. Banner failed to score from here on until Naomi Carroll had the final score of the game after Sliabh Luachra goals from Lorraine Scanlon and Elaine O’Connor.
As usual Louise Henchy gave it her all, while Louise Woods, Naoimi Carroll and Niamh O’Dea tried hard.
For Sliabh Luachra they now progress to the Munster Senior A final against Cork champions Donoughmore who defeated All-Ireland club champions, Inch Rovers in the Cork county final.

Banner Ladies: Emma O’Driscoll; Aoife Martin, Clare Walsh, Laurie Ryan (capt); Louise Woods, Katie Cahill, Sinead O’Keeffe; Shona Enright, Louise Henchy; Rebecca Culligan, Naomi Carroll (0-3), Mary Tierney; Susan McNamara, Niamh O’Dea (0-6, 0-4f), Sonya Maher (0-2).
Subs: Eva O’Dea for R Culligan (25th); Grainne Nolan for S O’Keeffe (h-t); Niamh O’Brien for M Tierney; Aoife Cavanagh for S Maher; Orlaith Lynch for M Tierney.
Sliabh Luachra: Hannah Fortune; Marian Shrine, Sinead Guiney, Marie O’Connor; Cait Lynch, Aoife Lyons, Julie Brosnan; Lorraine Scanlon (1-3, 1-0f), Aisling Leonard; Rachael Cronin, Elaine O’Connor (2-2), Mary Herlihy (1-0); Mary O’Keeffe (0-4, 0-3f), Margaret O’Donoghue (capt) (0-5), Leanne Mangan (0-1).
Subs: Jane Lynch for R Cronin; Megan Browne for M O’Connor; Norita McCarthy for M Shine; Catriona Kelly for M O’Keeffe, Kerrie Lynch for L Mangan.
Referee: Richie O’Connor (Tipperary).