Dalton McDonagh strikes twice as Meath defeat DIT

Meath 4-11 DIT 1-14

Goals proved crucial as Meath saw off the challenge of reigning Sigerson Cup champions Dublin Institute of Technology in a less than exciting O'Byrne Cup opener at Páirc Tailteann.

Mickey Newman and Dalton McDonagh scored goals to give Meath a 2-6 to 0-6 interval lead. Niall Scully pulled one back for DIT with ten minutes remaining but David Larkin and McDonagh added further Meathgoals.
Shane O'Rourke's return to the Meath team was warmly greeted by the home supporters and he marked the occasion with a fine first-half point.
MEATH: P O'Rourke; C Young, S Curran, M Burke; D Dalton, E Harrington, D McQuillan; C Gillespie, S O'Rourke (0-1); D Larkin (1-2), D McDonagh (2-0), G Reilly (0-5); E Wallace, S Bray, M Newman (1-3, 0-3f). Subs: C O'Sullivan for Wallace (26), S Kenny for McQuillan, C Sheridan for Newman (both h-t), D Bray for S O'Rourke (57).
DIT: C Daly; K O'Brien, M Shields, G O'Hare; N Devereaux (0-1), B Menton (0-1), R Sheridan; R Hazley, P Cunningham; C Reddin (0-2), P Achenson, D O'Reilly; B Allen (0-4, 4f), C Grimes (0-1), N Scully (1-4, 1-0 pen, 0-3f). Subs: M O'Hehir for Cunningham (31), S O'Connor (0-1) for Hazley (47), C Doyle for Devereaux (51), C Sutton for Sheridan (56), C Deay for O'Reilly (69).
Referee: F Barry (Kildare).