O’Byrne Cup: Dublin held to opening Wexford draw

O’Byrne Cup Round 1

Wexford 2-06 Dublin 0-12

IT Carlow 2-06 DCU 3-20

Louth 1-09 Offaly 0-13

Kildare 0-24 DIT 1-07

Carlow 1-04 Meath 1-18

Laois 1-10 UCD 1-09

Wicklow 0-13 Westmeath 1-14

Longford 0-18 Maynooth University 1-09

Wexford: 2-6 Dublin: 0-12

Everything about this game screamed of the first Sunday in January: enthusiastic yet lethargic football; flurries of scores at odd intervals; and two chaotic team sheets that never got official confirmation.

That it couldn’t even provide a winner also proved suitable for the time of year. Dublin only briefly imitated their All-Ireland winning status and Wexford showed enough heart to deserve the draw. Still it was every bit as forgettable as it should be.

Conditions on the back pitch of St Patrick’s Park in Enniscorthy (actually the fourth choice of venue) weren’t that bad, yet the fact Dublin only scored four points in the first half is some measure of the quality. By then, Wexford had scored 2-5 - a goal from Ben Brosnan, then a penalty from Aidan Flynn - and looked on course for a mild New Year surprise.

Dublin rallied accordingly. Dean Rock - one of just three of their All-Ireland winning team to start - finished with 0-6, including the equalising score just at the death. Philly McMahon and James McCarthy also came on for the second half, although McMahon didn’t actually see the game out as he was black carded.

All in all then probably a few more positives for Wexford manager David Power, who also brought PJ Banville off the bench in the second half for his first appearance in a Wexford jersey in a year, having spent 2015 in New York: although clearly short of football, Banville hit Wexford’s only point of the second half which briefly restored their advantage, only for Rock to level it again at the death.

“Ultimately in the second half Dublin really took over, but for us to be hanging on, we’re happy,” admitted Power. “We had chances we could have taken but they had chances too. That was probably a fair enough result.

“I know Dublin are only back training or whatever but it’s a great, positive start for us. I suppose we dropped four or five balls into the keeper’s hands in the second half. That was just pure tiredness, but look, to not concede a goal against Dublin is very positive for us.”

Banville will certainly add to Wexford’s setup in 2016, although for now the first and only aim is promotion back out of division four: “Promotion is the main thing but it’s over seven games,” added Power. “We’re not going to target January 31st. Every game we’re going to target. If we can get a level of performance like that every day we should be winning a lot of games down in division four.”

For Dublin, the defending O’Byrne Cup champions, the main talking point afterwards was the loss of full back Rory O’Carroll, who will spend 2016 in New Zealand. Manager Jim Gavin handed several players starting positions, including Eoin Culligan from Cuala at full back, although no one particularly shone above the likes of the already established Rock, Andrews and Denis Bastick.

“I think it was good endeavour from both teams for this time of the season,” admitted Dublin manager Jim Gavin. “Wexford put in a very impressive first half performance, and likewise we did in the second half. To be seven down, I thought the guys showed great composure there and great spirit for this time of the year. We just went back in camp yesterday morning so it was a good weekend’s work.

“So I think we are playing catch up a little. Regardless of any bans on training, we wouldn’t come back any way. Certainly it will be a bit of a stormy sea in the New Year and the national league but hopefully we’ll catch up.”

Indeed Gavin also admitted that defending the O’Byrne Cup was not a priority: “It would be nice if that happens, but it’s really about giving players opportunities and letting them experience senior inter-county football and playing other inter-county teams. Most of those guys have represented their county at some stage in their careers so they know what’s required. They are here on merit. We have been looking and scouting over the last while and we look forward to seeing them on the park again on Wednesday against IT Carlow.”

Wexford: A Masterson; J Connor, R Vallejo (0-1), N Rossiter; B Malone, S Donohue, K Butler; C Kehoe, G Malone; N Hughes, A Flynn (1-1), K O'Grady (0-1); B Brosnan (1-1), J Carty, K Rowe (0-1). Subs: T Rossiter for Malone (14mins, black card), PJ Banville (0-1) for Butler (43 mins), S Ryan for Rowe (45 mins), S Doyle for Connor (55 mins), P O'Connor for Hughes (68 mins).

Dublin: M Savage; J Curley, E Culligan, C Mullally; N Devereux, J Small, M Concarr; D Bastick, C Reddin; J Whelan 0-1, D Rock 0-6 (two frees), S Carthy (0-1); C Costello 0-1, P Andrews (0-2), C O'Callaghan (0-1). Subs: J McCarthy for Devereux (half time), P McMahon for Concarr (half time), G Hannigan for Culligan (46 mins), N Scully for Bastick (47 mins), A Caffrey for McMahon (55 mins, black card), N Walsh for O'Callaghan (57 mins)

Referee: John Hickey (Carlow).

Laois 1-10 UCD 1-9

A 73rd minute point from Ruairí O’Connor ensured that Mick Lillis’ tenure as new Laois manager got off to a winning start in Ratheniska on Sunday. It was nothing less than Laois deserved after they put in a committed display against the students.

UCD just about edged the first half as they went into the break leading six points to four. Westmeath’s John Heslin and Monaghan’s Conor McCarthy shared the honours while Laois stayed in touch with points from Donie Kingston (2), Nigel Murphy and Alan Farrell.

The second half was a more lively affair thanks in the main to Laois who came back out and played with far more urgency.

To their credit, UCD battled gallantly and levelled the game in the 72nd minute with points form Rob Carr and Fiach Andrews.

Just when it looked like the honours would be shared Laois substitute Ruairí O’Connor popped up to land the winning point.

Laois: Graham Brody; Paul Cotter, Mark Timmons, Trevor Collins; Tony Connolly, Darren Strong, Alan Farrell (0,1); John O'Loughlin (0,1), Jamie Farrell (1,0); Nigel Murphy (0,1), Donie Kingston (0-4, four frees) , Damien O'Connor; Evan Costello, Gary Walsh, Colm Murphy. Subs: Paul Cahillane for Murphy (h/t), Danny Reilly for D. O'Connor (h/t), Gareth Dillon for Connolly (h/t), Martin Scully for Collins (44m), Ruairí O'Connor (0,1) for Costello (54m), Kevin Meaney (0,2) for Walsh (54m)

UCD: Eoghan Kehoe; Stephen Mulvany, Michael Fitzsimons, Niall McInerney; Niall O'Reilly, Eoghan Nolan, Martin Cahalan; Jack Barry, Barry O'Sullivan; Fiach Andrews (0,1), Conor McCarthy (0,3, one free), David Fitzpatrick; Rob Carr (0,1, one free), John Heslin (0,4, four frees), Luke Kelly (1,0). Subs: Robert McDaid for Nolan (24m, inj), Darren Murphy for O'Sullivan (44m), Brian Byrne for Cahalan (47m), Paul Mannion for Heslin (47m), Ed O'Byrne for McCarthy (52m), David Byrne for O'Reilly (67m)

Referee: Patrick Maguire (Longford)

Kildare 0-2 DIT 1-7

Kildare have had a very good record in the Bord na Móna O’Byrne Cup in recent years, moving clear at the top of the roll of honour with three successes already this decade and appearing in the last five finals.

On this evidence, they stand a good chance of getting back to the knockout stages and perhaps adding to their 11 victories, as they possessed far too much firepower for DIT.

Adam Tyrrell scored nine points and Eoghan O’Flaherty contributed six as Kildare gave new manager, Cian O’Neill a comfortable start to his tenure at St Conleth’s Park.

Scorers: Kildare: A Tyrrell 0-9(4fs); E O'Flaherty 0-6(3fs, 1 45); D Flynn 0-3; C McNally 0-2; R Houlihan, S Hanafin, R Cahill, F Dowling 0-1 each

DIT: B McMahon 0-5(4fs); C Madden 1-1; K O'Gara 0-1

Kildare: T Corley, P Kelly, L Healy, C Fitzpatrick, R Houlihan, J Byrne,G Farrell, D Flynn, D Whyte, C McNally, E O'Flaherty, A Tyrrell, J Eaton, F Dowling, S Hanafin. Subs: S McNally for Houlihan BC (33), R Kelly for Whyte (50), E Heavey for C McNally (56), R Cahill for Eaton (62), E Powderly for Fitzpatrick (62), É O'Connor for O'Flaherty (65)

DIT: C Ferris, K O'Brien, N Collins, S Clayton, R McGowan, C Boyle, E Flanagan, E Ó Connghaile, D Nelson, G Guilfoyle, B McMahon, S Cunningham, K O'Gara, C Madden, T O'Connor. Subs: G O'Reilly for Madden (52), P Reilly for Flanagan (53), R Scott for Cunningham (53), L Irwin for O'Gara (62), C Lynn for Guilfoyle (62), M Stewart Byrne for O'Brien (67)

Referee: S Johnson (Louth)

Offaly 0-13 Louth 1-9

Offaly rang in 2016 with the narrowest of wins, but their hosts very nearly wrecked the party in Darver.

The Faithful County led by six points in the opening half, but were hanging on desperately by the finish, as Jim McEneaney inspired a Louth rally.

Offaly: K Garry; D Brady, E Rigney, S Pender; N Darby, J Moloney, J O'Connor; L Fox, C McNamee (0-1); M Brazil (0-1), S Nally, C Donoghue (0-1); S Doyle (0-3 frees), J Maher (0-3, two frees), B Allen (0-4). Subs: J Gettings for Fox (43), A Sullivan for Brazil (43), C Byrne for Darby (53), N Dunne for Doyle (55), S Moriarty for Nally (60), B Darby for Pender (68).

Louth: N Gallagher; P Rath, D Quigley, K Toner; E Lafferty, D McMahon, K McLaughlin; T Durnin, D O'Connell; A Reid, J McEneaney (1-5, four frees), D Byrne; C Judge (0-2, one free), G McSorley (0-1), J Stewart. Subs: C McKeever for O'Connell (30), R Holcroft (0-1 free) for McSorley (50), C Lenehan for Toner (50), J Califf for Durnin (56), S Hand for Judge (69).

Referee: B Cawley (Kildare).

Longford 0-18 Maynooth 1-09

Denis Connerton got his second spell as Longford manager off to a winning start as they easily dispatched NUI Maynooth in their O’Byrne Cup first round tie.

With a new man in charge several former players made their return to the Longford side with half-forward James McGivney excellent throughout, hitting over five fine points.

Scorers: Longford: J McGivney, R Smyth (3f) 0-5 each, B Kavanagh 0-4 (3f), B Farrell 0-2, A Dalton, B McKeon 0-1. NUI Maynooth: N Flynn 0-5 (4f), E O'Carroll 1-0, J Wallace 0-2 (1f), E Roache, B Duggan 0-1 each.

Longford: P Collum; F Battrim, D Masterson (J Carroll 66), C P Smyth; S Doyle (P Foy 40), D Gallagher, A Dalton; M Brady, B Farrell; P McKeon (M Hughes 49), J McGivney, B McKeon; R Smyth (L Moran 66), B Kavanagh, D Brady.

NUI Maynooth: C Farnan; A Brennan, E Mullan, J Costello; T Gibbons, T Hannifan, C Slevin; F Conway, B Duggan (C Sheridan 62); R McManus, E O'Carroll (B Mooney 68), H Walsh (J Wallace 42); E Roache, N Flynn, M Keogh (B Dardis 56).

Referee: David Gough (Meath)

Westmeath 1-14 Wicklow 0-13

Westmeath got off to a flying start in 2016 as they racked up a four points win over Wicklow in their O’Byrne cup opener at Bray.

Despite all the rain over the past month, the Bray pitch was in amazing good condition and while played in amazing sunshine, this was still typical Patchy start of season football.

Scorers: Westmeath: J Connellan 1-6, S Dempsey 0-4, P Sharry 0-2, G Egan and C McCormack 0-1 each.

Wicklow: R Finn 0-5, P Byrne and A McLoughlin 0-2 each, D Healy, D Hayden C Murphy, C Fitzgerald 0-1 each,

Westmeath: D Quinn, J Gonoud, F Boyle, J Donohoe, D Lynch, A Stone, J Dolan S Mangan, P Sharry, R Foley, G Egan, J Boyce, S Dempsey, C McCormack, J Connellan. Subs used R Gorman, K McGuirl, Doran D Wallace, J Egan,

Wicklow: W Hender Phillips, C Hyland, R O'Brien, A Murphy, D Healy, P McLoughlin, C Murphy, R Finn, A McLoughlin, D Hayden, S Kelly, J Crowe, P Byrne, P Cunningham, C Fitzgerald. Sub: C Davis for C Fitzgerald, C French for R O'Brien (b/c), N Gaffney for P Byrne.

Referee: B Tiernan, Dublin

Meath 1-18 Carlow 1-4

Meath romped to victory in their O Byrne cup opener against hosts Carlow at Netwatch Cullen Park , with an early second half goal from Mark Battersby paving the way for an easy win.

Scorers: Meath: M Newman0-7, (0-6f, 0-1 pen), M Battersby 1-2, G Reilly, D McDonagh (0-3 each), H Rooney , P Geraghty and S Tobin (0-1 each)

Carlow: C Blake (0-4 frees), B Kavanagh (1-0)

Meath: C McHugh; B Tormey, D Keoghan, N Judge; J O'Reilly, C Finn, D Smyth; H Rooney, A Tormey; G Reilly, M Newman, P McKeever; S Tobin, D McDonagh, M Battersby.Subs: C Downey for McKeever (8mins inj), D Lenihan for Tobin (ht), S McEntee for A Tormey (40mins), P Geraghty for O'Reilly (47mins), P Kinnelly for Judge (60mins), S Carty for Smyth (65mins).

Carlow: C Kearney; BJ Molloy, D St Ledger, G Power; G Kelly, D Hayden, B Kavanagh; P O'Halloran, M Ware; E Finnegan, D O'Brien, A Kelly; C Blake, J Murphy, D Moran. Subs: JJ Smith for Halloran, H Hegarty for Power and M fitzgerald for Hayden (all 54mins), J Kennedy for Murphy (61mins), P Broderick for O'Brien (66mins), G Dunne for Kavanagh (70 mins bc).