The Ladies of Laune Rangers and Southern Gaels squared off on Friday evening 17th July, as the title of Senior Ladies Club Champions for 2015 awaited the victors. The full complement of County players were available to the Southerners, while the Laune Rangers team was more notable for the absence of some key players – Kerry players Edel Murphy & Bernie Breen and stalwart Annemarie O’Donoghue unavailable to the Killorglin side on the day.
Laune Rangers had a solid start, and led early on with points from Sarah Houlihan, but the Gaels steadied the ship before long and had the lead after 12 minutes by 0-4 to 0-3. Both sides had goal chances in the early stages also, but the attempts from Megan O’Connell and Cliona Coffey respectively went wide. Southern Gaels put some distance between the sides before half time, as a 26th minute Linda Cronin goal added to points from points from the Cronins Mary & Linda, Sandra Dillon & a Deirdre Corridon free. Meanwhile, Sarah Houlihan & Megan Gamble pointed fro Rangers to leave the score at the break:- Laune Rangers 0-5, Southern Gaels 1-8.
The match was unfortunately over as any sort of contest early in the 3rd quarter. After Sarah Houlihan had pointed for Rangers in the 1st minute of the half, Southern Gaels struck for their second goal. Mary Cronin got the vital touch to a 45’ to put the ball in the Rangers net. By the 5th minute of the half, there was a treble-score margin between the sides. Gaels’ third goal from Julie O’Connell and a point from Linda Cronin put their side ahead by 3-9 to 0-6. As the Rangers players became more disconsolate, Gaels did not ease up, and the now juggernaut attack added 4 more goals from Julie O’Connell (her 2nd), Bernie Cronin as well as substitutes Rachel Galvin and Caoimhe Teahan. They also doubled their points tally before the final whistle – Deirdre Corridan (4), Mary Cronin (2), Bernie Cronin and Linda Cronin (2). Rangers did manage to put some decent play together and put two goals past a Gaels defence that were not loosening their grip – Patrice Dennehy and Amy Foley finding the net after an earlier point from Sarah Houlihan.
A thoroughly dominant performance from Southern Gaels was aided by the individual brilliance of some of their Senior stars. Caroline Kelly was a rock at centre back, while Bernie Cronin controlled midfield. Mary Cronin was 
also a constant threat at corner forward. However it was the performance of centre-forward Linda Cronin that really put her side in the driver seat when it was required, and her tally of 1-6 proves even further that she was player of the match.
David Randles of Sponsors Randles Bros Nissan Dealers presented the title to Capt Cecilia O’Sullivan.
Laune Rangers: Klara O’Sullivan, Johanna O’Callaghan, Maura O’Sullivan, Katie Roche, Sarah Clifford, Amy Foley (1-0), Meadhbh Johnston, Sinead O’Connor, Maryann Doherty, Megan Gamble (0-1), Patrice Dennehy(c) (1-0), Norina O’Callaghan, Cliona Coffey, Sarah Houlihan (0-6, 2f), Cliodhna McSweeney. Subs: Yvonne Sheehan, Sarah O’Connor, Emma Breen, Noreen O’Sullivan, Sarah Pigott.
Southern Gaels: Elaine O’Sullivan, Sinead Clifford, Cecelia O’Sullivan (c), Fiona Keating, Clodagh Quinlan, Caroline Kelly, Brigid Dennehy, Megan O’Connell, Bernie Cronin (1-1), Sandra Dillon (0-1), Linda Cronin (1-5), Shannon O’Shea, Mary Cronin (1-4), Deirdre Corridan (0-7,2f), Julie O’Connell (2-0). Subs: Rachel Galvin (1-0), Caoimhe Teahan (1-0), Saoirse Kirby, Niamh Keating.
Match report compliment of Paul – Laune Rangers PRO.