Although played at a sun-drenched Turn Moss the vista was decieving as a cold wind blew across the open floodplain and made it a chilly one for those who had gathered to take in this Junior League Match.

Those who had arrived early witnessed a formidable looking warm-up from the Lawrence's side who had over 30 players availble for selection.

The more seasoned Oisins men were taking a more steady apporach and their 14 men took a more casual approach to the prelimenaries - they had seen it all before!

Given the player number disparity a 13 a side match was called for by Oisins and as such 2 of the Lawrence's starters had to drop to the sideline, not an ideal situation but better to have 13 a side than no game.

When the game eventually got underway it was the Lawrence's men who started fastest, perhaps a nod to the intense warm-up they had done and corner forward Dermot Thornton duly opened the scoring after just a minute's play. This was followed by a beautiful Brian O'Connor point, who being back in proper training and deployed at full forward would prove a handful for the Didsbury men all evening. O'Connor scored the next as well with a lovely "45" - no better sight in football than points struck form the ground at distance!

In the next 5 mins the Oisins men collected themsleves and pushed forward to try to narrow the gap but a combination of some intense defensive pressure and poor shooting menat they could only register 3 wides.

Lawrence's were in the ascendancy in midfield and follwing great work in the middle for Eamon Dolan, Adrian Nash got free to tag another on.

Brian O'Connor then scored another point with a peach off the right boot and Nash and Dolan combined again for another point each.

17 mins had elapsed before Oisins got on the scoresheet and it came by way of a goal which itself was the result of a defensive error. They capitalised again with a point to leave the score 0-7 to 1-1.

Oisins then lost Teague to a hamstring injury after 25 mins, a blow they could not afford and the Lawrence's men took full advantage with Stevie Durham plundering a goal and a point before Brian O'Connor scored the final point of the half to leave it 1 -9 to 1-1 at the break.

Dermot Thorton started the scoring in 2nd half before the Oisins lads went on a purple patch scoring 1-3 in 5 mins to get right back into the game.

Brian O'Connor stopped the rut for the Stretfordians and Eamon Dolan broke form midfield to land another. Dolan was having his best game to date in a Lawrence's jersey and the extra work he has put in on his shooting was really paying off. Another Thornton point made it 1-14 to 2-5 with 19 mins of 2nd half elapsed.

Credit to Oisins they never give up easily and using all of their experience they kept the ball in hand and launched wave after wave of attack looking for another goal. This gave them 3 scores in quick succession and only a fantastic save by Mike Flannery in nets denied Oisins going level. It would be the last goal opportunity missed and after freshening things up with all 6 subs including younster Declan Connolly who was channelling his inner Owen Mulligan with both his fooballing and hairdressing ability.

The fresh legs did the trick and Lawrence's hit 1-4 to see the game out - which was well deserved on their first half performance alone.

Final score 2-15 to 2-9.

It was another important win for St. Lawrence's and became their 3rd win from 4 in the Junior League which is the same number of wins they managed in last year's League campaign with 6 left to play.

There was much for Mellett, Kearney and Fitzpatrick to be happy about overall in the Lawrence's management team but perhaps the most telling characteristic amoungst this new band of players was their own dissapoinment with their 2nd half display.

It seems clear this 2019 squad will not be content with "the odd win" and the League clash with St. Brendan's in two weeks time will be eagerly anticipated.