IN SUNDAY'S opening round of the O’Byrne Cup, Dublin and Wexford played out a 2-6 to 0-12 draw at Enniscorthy, with the All-Ireland champions having to snatch a draw through a Dean Rock point late on.
Wexford made a whirlwind start to the game, with goals from Ben Brosnan and Adrian Flynn seeing them lead by six after 12 minutes. Goalkeeper Anthony Masterson also saved an 11th minute Rock penalty. With chances few and far between, the home side led 2-5 to 0-4 at the break.
On the resumption, Dublin then hit a purple patch with seven points on the spin, including six from Rock. His 66th minute point levelled matters before Wexford’s PJ Banville hit his side’s only point of the half, which looked like the winner. But Rock equalised again with a brilliant effort.
After the game, Dublin manager Jim Gavin confirmed three-time All-Ireland winning full-back Rory O’Carroll will not be part of the county set-up this season as he is emigrating to New Zealand.
NEW Kildare manager Cian O’Neill got off to a winning start as the Lilywhites convincingly beat DIT 0-24 to 1-7. Adam Tyrell contributed nine points of that total.
Meath also enjoyed a resounding win as they thumped Carlow 1-18 to 1-4. Carlow led early on, but the Royals rifled over seven points without reply to lead by six at the break and never looked like getting caught.
ELSEWHERE, Roscommon and Mayo, both under new management, recorded wins in the FBD league.
The Rossies, now under the stewardship of Kevin McStay and Fergal O’Donnell, enjoyed a resounding 1-20 to 0-10 win over IT Sligo. Kieran Kilcline scored the game’s only goal as the holders of the FBD league led 1-12 to 0-3 at half-time. Ciarán Murtagh caught the eye for Roscommon, finishing the game with 0-6.
Newly installed Mayo boss Stephen Rochford also got off to a winning start as the Westerners won a more competitive game against NUIG, 1-12 to 1-10.
The students led by one point at the interval, but the Connacht champions looked like they would ease to a win when Kevin McLoughlin raised a green flag after 42 minutes and points from Conor Loftus and Colm Boyle made the gap five.
But two Mayo men, Conor O’Shea and Adam Gallagher, led the fight back for NUIG. The latter’s penalty made it a tense end to the game for Mayo, who nevertheless managed to keep their noses in front.
Also in Connacht, Galway had three points to spare over Sligo in a 2-9 to 0-12 win. In an enjoyable contest, Damian Comer and sub Enda Tierney scored Galway’s goals - one in each half, while all six of the Tribes men’s forwards scored from play in the first-half. Sligo battled away, with Niall Murphy scoring six points to keep the Yeats men competitive.
IN MUNSTER, Cork and Clare both won in the first round of the McGrath Cup.
Clare had a late comeback against Tipperary at Miltown Malbay. Behind by five at the interval, a Kieran Malone goal at the death snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
The Rebels also registered a one-point win over Limerick in a game which was close throughout. Kevin O’Driscoll hit the net for Cork, who took the spoils on a 1-10 to 0-12 finishing scoreline.
Meanwhile, in the Munster Senior Hurling League, a late Shane O’Donnell goal for Clare handed the Banner a win against Cork. That game finished 1-14 to 0-14, while Limerick defeated Kerry 2-23 to 0-18, with the Treaty’s goals coming from David Reidy and Michael Ryan.
