08 July 2009 Banner Ladies off to great start Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! Banner Ladies Football Club Press Release July 7th 2009 Match Report Clare Senior Championship 1st Round Venue: Lissycasey Date: Tuesday July 7th Referee: Michael Bohannon Banner Ladies 6 – 17 Crusheen 0 – 5 The score-line says it all. This was a facile win for the reigning senior champions as they easily outplayed Crusheen without ever having to move into top gear. This result is bound to send shudders through the other sides in this year’s championship as the Banner Ladies appear in uncompromising mood in their determination to retain the crown they won for the first time last year. Crusheen opted to play with the aid of a significant breeze in sun drenched Lissycasey but right from the off they were under pressure as Niamh Keane burst through for the winner’s opening point within a minute. This set the pattern for the game and further quick fire points were to follow from Louise Henchy and Keane before Mary Tierney got her side’s opening goal in the ninth minute. Already Crusheen were in deep trouble and they had great difficulty in winning primary possession and the few early raids into opposition territory were easily dealt with by a competent and composed Banner Ladies defence.. Further points were to accrue from Niamh O’Dea and Henchy before Crusheen opened their account from a seventeenth minute free from Tina Meaney. Further points from Claire O’Grady and Michelle O’Donnell seemed to signal a Crusheen revival but this was cut short when Niamh O’Dea goaled for the Banner Ladies on twenty seven minutes. Niamh Keane and Rachel Lenihan then swapped points to leave the interval score 2 – 6 to 0 – 4 in the Ennis sides favour. With wind advantage to come in the second half one feared that the Banner Ladies would run riot and this is exactly what transpired. The Ennis side comfortably won the second half by a 4 – 11 to 0 – 1 margin and it really became target practice for the Ennis side as the game wore on. Both sides and all supporters present breathed a sigh of relief when referee Michael Bohannon eventually blew the final whistle. A thirty point drubbing does little for either side but the Banner Ladies have set out their stall that they will not be giving up their maiden crown lightly. The Banner Ladies next outing is in the Clare 11 A Side championship this Friday evening when they face Liscannor in the Moher Community Field at 7.30pm and their U-14’s will be in action on Tuesday next in the Clare U14 A championship when they play the Burren Gaels. Dr. Paul McKenna, PRO Banner Ladies Football Club www.bannerladiesfootball.com Share this Article 0 0