February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Martin Breheny
DUBLIN — The new season may be only flickering to life, but already Longford and Westmeath are raising their supporters’ spirits. Both reeled off their second wins in the O’Byrne Cup Sunday, taking the prized scalps of Dublin and Meath in the process.
Admittedly, both Dublin and Meath fielded weakened teams, but that was of little concern to their enterprising rivals. Longford were taken to extra-time by Dublin but negotiated it safely, eventually winning by a point, 0-20 to 1-16. Padraig Davis was Longford’s ace marksman, scoring 0-8.
Sean Boylan and his All-Ireland winning team are away on holiday in Dubai, so Tommy Dowd was put in charge of the side for the visit to Mullingar. Meath had no first-team regulars on duty and they paid the price against a lively Westmeath side, who won by 2-12 to 3-7.
Boylan kept in tune with events in Mullingar, via a radio link to Dubai, and while Meath lost, he won’t be unduly worried as some of the fringe players showed up really well.
Offaly kept their O’Byrne Cup hopes alive with a 3-7 to 1-12 victory over Carlow, while Laois also made it to the semifinals, beating Wexford by 1-16 to 1-9. Stephen Kelly was Laois’ scoring hero, notching 1-7 in a victory, which sets up a semifinal clash with Westmeath next Sunday. Longford and Offaly meet in the other semifinal.
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Sligo recorded a rare triumph over Galway in the FBD Connacht League, winning by 2-11 to 0-14 at Tubbercurry. Galway were short several regulars but that doesn’t detract from an enterprising performance by Sligo, for whom Sean Davey scored 2-1. Roscommon beat Leitrim, 0-13 to 1-6, in the other Connacht League game.