After a successful start to their championship campaign against Tara's, the John Mitchel ladies from Liverpool made a similar start to their league campaign against close rivals Oisins last night at Old Bedian's pitch in Manchester.

Despite a bad weather forecast, the skies stayed clear and it was Mitchels who made the brightest start. After a couple of early wides, the impressive Aoife Byrne opened the scoring with a point from the left and soon followed it with another. This seemed to wake Oisins up and they responded with a goal and a point in quick succession to give them the lead. Instead of taking the sting out of the Liverpool game, it spurred them on. Their hugely impressive half line and midfield took control of proceedings and the always good link up play moved up through the gears as Mitchels responded. They were particularly effective down the right side, with the influential Maura McHugh and Cate Herron linking on numerous occasions to create openings for the breaking forward midfield and half forward line. After a couple of near misses and balls dropping short. McHugh and Herron linked again and provided the opening for Slainey Murray to break through the defence and finish to the corner to cap an excellent move. This was followed by a point from Herron, who finished well after Murray and Lynne Boddy combined to create the opening. Oisins responded with a point from a free, but this was as good as it got for them for the remainder of the half as they struggled to break down the strong Mitchels defence. After another quick passing move, Slainey Murray clipped the ball over the keeper for a second goal and Byrne added her third point from play for the half. Niamh Gilbride added another from a free and the scoring was finished with the move of the half as McHugh, Herron and Elaine Murphy combined for Murray to point from the right.

Half time

Oisins 1-2

John Mitchels Liverpool 2-6

The second half started as the first finished, with what was arguably the move of the match as MItchels won the throw up and the hole half forward combined to play Gilbride through and she finished with aplomb to the top corner to effectively end any chance of Oisins coming back into the game. Oisins lost their shape after this and Gilbride added two further points, one from a free. Energetic full back Eimear O'Donnell got a deserved score from play and Gilbride added to her tally with another point, before Oisins landed their first score of the half. The always battling Oisins refused to give up, but were soon on the receiving end again as Murray added to her tally with another point. Oisins did get their reward for their endeavours with a goal, but the scoring finished with Aoife Byrne adding another from play to complete a fantastic team performance from the Mitchel ladies.

Full time

Oisins 2-03

John Mitchels Liverpool 3-12
As impressive a performance as it was from the Mitchel ladies, it was a game played with heavy hearts. Mitchel stalwart, Anne-Marie Creegan, recently lost her father and the club would like to extend their deepest sympathies to her and her family. A minute's silence was observed before the game and the club would like thank Oisins and the supporters for their grace in observing it.