Bórd Na Móna O’Byrne Cup
Group D
NEWCOMER DANIEL WATSON was sprung from the bench to hit two goals as Dublin defeated Louth tonight in Parnell Park by 2-6 to 0-8.
In a game marred by terrible weather conditions, there was only a solitary point scored in the opening 32 minutes with Jason Whelan on the mark for Dublin. But Derek Crilly, Liam Shevlin and Brian White all pointed to help Louth lead by 0-3 to 0-1 at the break.
Dublin fought back and struck the crucial scores in the second-half with St Anne’s club man Watson firing to the net in the 59th minute and hitting a point soon after to send them into a 1-6 to 0-5 lead.
Louth fought back to cut the gap to the minimum before Watson found the net again two minutes from time to seal a four-point victory for Jim Gavin’s side.
Elsewhere in the group, DCU enjoyed a successful trip to Mullingar as they emerged with a 2-15 to 2-9 victory against Westmeath.
DCU lead 2-5 to 0-7 at the break and despite goals by Paul Sharry and Dessie Dolan in the second-half for Westmeath, Niall Moyna’s DCU side had six points to spare at the final whistle. Dublin face DCU in Parnell Park next Sunday with an O’Byrne Cup semi-final place on offer as both sides are unbeaten heading into the final round of games.
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan
Group C
Meath and Wicklow claimed their second successive O’Byrne Cup victories tonight. At Páirc Tailteann in Navan, Meath ran out 0-18 to 0-12 winners over IT Carlow.
Meath lead by 0-10 to 0-7 at the break but IT Carlow cut the gap to the minimum – 0-11 to 0-10 – during the second-half. Meath upped the ante in the finale and ran out winners by a six-point margin.
In Newtownmountkennedy it finished 1-21 to 3-13 in favour of Wicklow against Dublin IT. The teams were level at 0-13 to 2-7 at the break but Brendan Kennedy’s second-half goal was crucial for the Garden County while goalkeeper Robert Lambert kicked the insurance point from a free at the death.
Meath travel to Baltinglass to take on Wicklow next Sunday in a game that will decide which one of these teams advances to the semi-final stage.