O’Byrne Cup
Group A
LAOIS BOUNCED BACK from last weekend’s loss to Wexford to defeat Offaly tonight by 2-18 to 1-15 in O’Moore Park in Portlaoise.
Laois got off to the perfect start with Conor Meredith finding the net early on but Offaly replied with a Ciaran Hurley goal in the 13th minute.
The goalscoring spree continued with Martin Scully raising a green flag for Laois in the 14th minute and that propelled Laois into a 2-6 to 1-7 interval lead. The second-half was tightly contested with the teams tied at 2-12 to 1-15 with ten minutes left.
But Laois powered clear in the closing stages with Stephen Attride and Billy Sheehan amongst their point-scorers as they ran out victors by six points.
The students of UCD also picked up their first win with a 2-12 to 2-3 success against Wexford at St Patrick’s Park in Enniscorthy.
All four teams in the group now have one win to their credit ahead of next Sunday’s last round of games. Laois entertain UCD in Portarlington next Sunday while Offaly are at home to Wexford in Tullamore.
Offaly’s Graham Guilfoyle and John O’Loughlin of Laois
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
Group B
Kildare clinched another comprehensive victory in the O’Byrne Cup tonight with a 3-20 to 0-6 success against Longford in Newtowncashel. It followed up the Lilywhites 24-point victory against Athlone IT last Sunday.
Kildare were dominant from the off and lead by 1-11 to 0-2 at the interval with Padraig Fogarty bagging their goal. Further green flags were raised in the second-half by Darroch Mulhall and Mikey Conway as Jason Ryan’s side cruised to success.
Elsewhere Athlone IT ran out 1-15 to 0-13 winners over Carlow at Carlow IT’s Grounds. Adam Caul grabbed the only goal of the game to give the students victory. Athlone IT travel to Ballymahon to face Longford next Sunday while Carlow are away to Kildare in Newbridge.
Dr McKenna Cup
Section B
St Mary’s defeated Fermanagh in tonight’s re-arranged Dr McKenna Cup game at Brewster Park by 3-8 to 1-10. The game had been postponed last Sunday due to a waterlogged pitch at the Enniskillen venue.
St Mary’s lead by 1-5 to 0-6 at half-time with Conal McCann grabbing their goal. Tyrone’s Tommy Canavan raised their second green flag after the break before a Seamus Quigley goal from a penalty brought Fermanagh back into contention.
But Armagh’s Peter Carragher hit the third goal to seal St Mary’s victory and condemn manager Pete McGrath to defeat in his first competitive game in charge of Fermanagh.
