O'Hanlon and Keenan set for court battle

Now in her 16th season as club captain, Bessbrook sportswoman O’Hanlon has led Larkfield to four convincing victories so far in the current campaign as they seek to add to the six Premier League titles won in the past decade under the legendary Denise Prue.

However, with accomplished playmaker Keenan from Cullyhanna making her first appearance of the season, reigning champions Belfast Ladies flexed their muscles with a statement win against Kingsway two Fridays ago.

Kingsway are the main challengers to Northern Ireland netball’s established Big Two but Belfast Ladies beat them 63-29 in a repeat of May’s Senior Cup final when Keenan’s side completed last season’s domestic double.

Dublin-based Keenan had sat out the first couple of fixtures this autumn due to professional exams but, even in a star-studded side packed with internationals, Northern Ireland’s first choice wing attack is a key figure for Belfast Ladies as chief feeder to the circle.

The champions are without one veteran former Northern Ireland captain Hannah Willis due to injury but new head coach Debbie Bleakley was able to welcome back another, Noleen Armstrong, against Kingsway.

World-class centre O’Hanlon as always will be pulling the strings from the middle of the court for Larkfield, who have scored heavily this season with the formidable Bowman sisters rattling in the goals.

Having hammered newly-promoted Donaghadee 85-30 the week before, Larkfield warmed up for facing Belfast Ladies by beating ambitious Banbridge 63-27 last Friday with Jenna Bowman seamlessly slotting in as lead shooter in place of unavailable elder sibling Lisa.

Lisa Bowman will be back for this week’s showdown with Belfast Ladies, meaning Northern Ireland’s best two shooters this century in herself and Armstrong will be at either end of the court for what should be an enthralling game.

These teams had one win each in the league games between them last season but Larkfield’s loss to Kingsway in the absence of Northern Ireland captain O’Hanlon late in the campaign effectively handed the title to their rivals.