O'BYRNE CUP FINAL/Louth 1-17 DCU 1-10:LOUTH PASSED another early-season examination with flying colours yesterday to lift the O'Byrne Cup for the first time since 1990.
After impressive high-scoring wins over UCD, Longford and Wicklow, Eamonn McEneaney’s troops proved too hot for the students of DCU in Drogheda.
Already firmly in control as half-time approached, the home team adjourned with a handsome seven-point advantage when Dublin defender Paddy Andrews drilled a low shot past his own goalkeeper Michael Boyle. The corner back seemed to be attempting a clearance under pressure from JP Rooney, but only succeeded in pulling the ball to the bottom corner of the net.
Although well out of the game at that stage, DCU did make the brighter start with early points from Brian Sheridan and Ray Cullivan. But Louth soon found their stride and levelled with a free from Darren Clarke and a 45 from Brian White, the first of seven scores from the midfielder.
His next two followed quickly and Clarke opened his account from play, as Louth hit the front for the first time, 0-5 to 0-3.
Sheridan’s second score of the afternoon brought the gap back to the minimum, but with Louth exerting their authority in most sectors and moving the ball around well in possession, the students fell 0-9 to 0-5 behind on the half-hour mark.
A four-point deficit might not have been too disheartening for Niall Moyna’s men, but disaster struck on the stroke of half-time with Andrews’ own goal.
Louth all but ended the match as a contest with the first three scores of the second half, including two from White.
An icy cold shower storm took its toll on proceedings as the sides only managed three points apiece by the 25th minute of the second half, Johnston cancelling out Louth’s bright start with a couple of frees and a point from play.
The margin was back out to 10 as full-time approached, but DCU substitute Conor Rafferty took some of the bad look off the scoreline, rising above Stuart Reynolds to fist a goal.
After setting up the goal, Johnston scored his fifth point, but Louth had the final say when Derek Maguire slotted over with the last kick of the game.
LOUTH: S Reynolds; D Finnegan, B McArdle; P Rath, M Fanning, G Hoey (0-1); R Carroll (0-1), B White (0-7, two 45s, one free); A Reid, S Lennon, D Reid (0-1); JP Rooney, D Crilly, D Clarke (0-5, two frees). Subs: P Smith (0-1) for A Reid (52 mins), A Hoey for R Carroll (yellow card, 53 mins), D Maguire (0-1) for JP Rooney (66 mins), K Rogers for D Clarke (70 mins) (Own goal: P Andrews).
DCU: M Boyle; B Watters, C Gavin, P Andrews (og); D Sheridan, C Hughes, R Flanagan; R Cullivan (0-1), K Reilly; C Gregg, B Sheridan (0-4, all frees), D Keenan; R Maguire, L Sweetman, M McElroy. Subs: S Johnston (0-5, three frees) for R Maguire (half-time), S O’Rourke for L Sweetman (half-time), D Kelly for D Keenan (half-time), K Leahy for R Flanagan (yellow card, 43 mins), P Howard for B Sheridan (yellow card, 46 mins), C Rafferty (1-0) for C Gregg (64 mins).
Referee: J Bannon (Longford).
