O’Byrne Cup final: Louth v Dublin (tomorrow, 2pm, Drogheda)
WHETHER they win or lose tomorrow, the O’Byrne Cup has proven nothing if not the strength of the game in Dublin right now.
Last weekend, Paul Clarke – who is taking charge of this competition as Dublin run their second string – saw a fledgling side overcome a much more experienced Kildare team in the semi-final.
That bodes badly for this summer’s Leinster Championship, but that is of little concern to a juggernaut that has developed a complete obsession with winning.
Louth boss Colin Kelly was at pains in the build-up to scotch their opponents’ tag as a second string but with none of last year’s All-Ireland winning squad involved, he was fighting a losing battle.
All-Ireland minor and under-21 winner Conor McHugh has made an impression that suggests he could force his way into Jim Gavin’s plans for the rest of the year, while Gary Sweeney and Niall Scully have also take their chance.
That win over Kildare, in which Dublin found themselves six points down at a stage in the first half, edged them into the decider with a Louth side that has had an impressive start to the new season.
A mean streak in their defence has seen last year’s Division Four champions keep two clean sheets in their four outings. Victories over Westmeath, Maynooth University and Carlow were backed up by an impressive 1-14 to 0-10 defeat of Meath last weekend.
That Jim McEneaney also got to exact a moment’s revenge by smashing a late penalty past Joe Sheridan – who famously scored that controversial goal in the 2010 Leinster final – will have contented them too.
With trips to Laois and Offaly among their opening fixtures in Division Three, a first O’Byrne Cup since 2009 would be a fine fillip for the Wee County.
But having lost a semi-final last year to Longford, which prevented them from claiming an entire unbeaten year, Dublin will be slight favourites to start the year with some more silverware.
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Weekend’s fixtures
Saturday 28 January
McKenna Cup final (Pairc Esler, 7pm): Derry v Tyrone,
Walsh Cup semi-final (Pearse Stadium, 2pm): Galway v IT Carlow
Munster Senior Hurling League (Fraher Field, 12.30pm): Waterford v Kerry
Sunday 29 January
O'Byrne Cup final (Drogheda, 2pm): Louth v Dublin
Connacht Senior Football League final (Kiltoom, 2pm): Galway v Roscommon
Munster Senior Hurling League final (Gaelic Grounds, 2pm): Limerick v Cork
Walsh Cup semi-final (New Ross, 2pm): Wexford v Kilkenny
Kehoe Cup round 3 (Glennon Bros Pearse Park, 2pm): Longford v Louth; (Greystones, 2pm): Wicklow v Trinity College
All-Ireland club IFC semi-final
Cusack Park, Ennis, 2.15pm: Westport (Mayo) v Kenmare (Kerry)
Athletic Grounds, 2.15pm: St Colmcilles (Meath) v Pomeroy (Tyrone)
All-Ireland club IHC semi-finals
O'Moore Park, 1pm: Carrickshock (Kilkenny) v Robert Emmetts (Britain),
O'Connor Park, 2.15pm: Ahascragh-Fohenagh (Galway) v Lismore (Waterford),
All-Ireland club JFC semi-finals
Cusack Park, Ennis, 12.30pm: Louisburgh (Mayo) v Glenbeigh-Glencar (Kerry)
Athletic Grounds, 12.30pm: Dunedin Connollys (Britain) v Rock (Tyrone)
All-Ireland club JHC semi-finals
O'Connor Park, 12.30pm: Calry-St Joseph's (Sligo) v Mayfield (Cork)
Trim, 2pm: Mooncoin (Kilkenny) v Lamh Dhearg (Antrim)
