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Leinster GAA

O'Byrne Cup Group A and B round-up

A positive start to 2013 for Meath, Louth and Dublin yesterday while Wicklow and DCU finished all square.

Group A

Mick O’Dowd got off to a winning start as Meath manager in the Bord Na Móna O’Byrne Cup yesterday afternoon with a two-point win over Longford.

In difficult weather conditions in Ballymahon, the Royals were triumphant by 1-9 to 1-7. They lead 1-6 to 1-3 at half-time after recovering from the concession of an early goal when Longford’s Donal McElligott found the net.

Damien Carroll raised a green flag from the penalty spot for Meath while Mickey Newman and Jamie Queeney both displayed good accuracy in kicking points.

An experimental Longford team attempted a recovery in the second-half but Meath clung on for success. They face Louth on Wednesday night in Navan while Longford entertain UCD in Killoe.

Louth will be chasing a second win in that match after they overturned UCD in Drogheda yesterday afternoon. In his first game in charge, Aidan O’Rourke witnessed his team grind out a 2-15 to 1-13 victory.

The Wee County lead by 1-9 to 1-4 at half-time with Darren Clarke hitting the net for them after Roscommon’s Niall Kilroy had provided an early boost for UCD when he grabbed a goal.

Both teams were reduced to 14 men in the first-half when Mark Brennan (Louth) and Dublin defender Rory O’Carroll (UCD) were both dismissed by referee Joe Curley. Louth maintained their advantage until the finish with Jim McEnaney helping secure the spoils when he struck home their second goal of the game.

Longford’s Kevin Diffley and Michael Brady with Peadar Byrne of Meath. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Tracy

Group B

It was a battle of new managers in Dr Cullen Park yesterday as former Dublin forward Jim Gavin took charge of his county’s senior side while former Lilywhites defender Anthony Rainbow was presiding over the fortunes of the Carlow footballers.

Ultimately it was Gavin who was left smiling in the aftermath as Dublin swept to a 3-13 to 1-12 success. Dublin lead by 1-9 to 0-8 at the interval after Diarmuid Connolly had hit home a fantastic goal.

The match was essentially sealed in the third quarter with St Peregrine’s Robbie McCarthy palming home Dublin’s second goal in the 40th minute and Tyrone native Paddy Quinn adding a third goal seven minutes later.

Carlow did grab a late goal back courtesy of Daniel St Ledger but Dublin held on. The only blot on Dublin’s copybook was the injury sustained by Michael Darragh MacAuley as he limped off with a dead leg in the first-half.

In the other match in this group, DCU fought back from a six-point interval deficit to draw with Wicklow in Greystones. Harry Murphy’s Wicklow side made all the running in the first-half and were full value for the 1-7 to 0-4 advantage that they carried with them into the dressing-rooms at the break.

Brendan McCrea blasted home Wicklow’s goal but then DCU began their revival in the second-half. Cavan’s Jack Brady hit their first goal and then Monaghan’s Jack McCarron fired in their second to tie the game.

Wicklow forged ahead near the finish but Brian Donnelly swung over the last score of the game to deliver a draw. Wicklow now entertain Carlow in Bray on Wednesday night while DCU will face Dublin in Parnell Park.