O'Byrne Cup 2014

[Syferus]

Good to see Shane O'Rourke back - he has missed a few games over the Christmas period despite being named to start. Not sure why. Hopefully we finally get to see him back in Meath colours.

I would say Mick O'Dowd is picking from a panel of about 22 or 23 with injuries and college commitments. It's hardly ideal. But it looks a very strong line-up for Sunday.

I would expect DIT will be very strong too as Sigerson Cup champions.

They have a good panel still but winning the Sigerson doesn't mean much when players are only there for 3-4 years, you lose something like 30% of your Sigerson panel every year. AOS is back out Wesht now so they've lost the key piece of that dominant midfield even if Givney is still there.

[Sea The Stars]

Good to see Shane O'Rourke back - he has missed a few games over the Christmas period despite being named to start. Not sure why. Hopefully we finally get to see him back in Meath colours.

I would say Mick O'Dowd is picking from a panel of about 22 or 23 with injuries and college commitments. It's hardly ideal. But it looks a very strong line-up for Sunday.

I would expect DIT will be very strong too as Sigerson Cup champions.

They have a good panel still but winning the Sigerson doesn't mean much when players are only there for 3-4 years, you lose something like 30% of your Sigerson panel every year. AOS is back out Wesht now so they've lost the key piece of that dominant midfield even if Givney is still there.

Have they lost much from last year's starting team Syferus?

[Syferus]

Good to see Shane O'Rourke back - he has missed a few games over the Christmas period despite being named to start. Not sure why. Hopefully we finally get to see him back in Meath colours.

I would say Mick O'Dowd is picking from a panel of about 22 or 23 with injuries and college commitments. It's hardly ideal. But it looks a very strong line-up for Sunday.

I would expect DIT will be very strong too as Sigerson Cup champions.

They have a good panel still but winning the Sigerson doesn't mean much when players are only there for 3-4 years, you lose something like 30% of your Sigerson panel every year. AOS is back out Wesht now so they've lost the key piece of that dominant midfield even if Givney is still there.

Have they lost much from last year's starting team Syferus?

Trying to find the 2014 panel but the best I could see was a clearly out-of-date one on their website: http://www.ditgaa.ie/football/senior/management-a-players.html

I know for sure that Alan Freeman graduated in 2012 so it's hard to divine much from it.

[rodney trotter]

4 or 5 at most from last years panel no longer in DIt.Colin Walsh now in UUj. Tomas O Connor still there
, Darren O Sullivan, Brian Menton, Ross Sheridan

Good team again this year, unlucky to be beaten in the Ryan Cup semi by Jordanstown by 1pt, there was very few of those players in that list on the panel last year, thats the 2012 panel

[Donnellys Hollow]

4 or 5 at most from last years panel no longer in DIt. Tomas O Connor still there
, Darren O Sullivan, Brian Menton, Ross Sheridan

Good team again this year, unlucky to ne beaten in the Ryan Cup semi by Jordanstown by a point, btw there was very view of those players in that list on the panel last year, thats the 2012 panel

He's starting for Kildare tomorrow.

[shark]

Westmeath team named isn't particularly strong. Maybe 4/5 championship players. Backline in particular looks weak at this level. Dublin team looks strong in comparison and would expect them to win comfortably.

[thejuice]

I'd say that Meath team will be close to what will start in the league. Mick O'Dowd will want to hit the ground running this year and get promotion to Division 1.

[Go home ref]

Bord na Móna O'Byrne Cup
Carlow 2-07 Longford 1-19 RES
Kildare 4-24 Athlone IT 0-12 RES
Meath 4-11 DIT 1-14 RES
Offaly 0-13 UCD 0-12 RES
Westmeath 0-11 Dublin 0-12 RES
Wexford 2-13 Laois 0-11 RES
Wicklow 1-09 IT Carlow 0-11 RES

[Donnellys Hollow]

Kildare 4-24 Athlone IT 0-12

Eoghan O'Flaherty (2-4), Darroch Mulhall (0-6), Adam Tyrell (1-1), Padraig Fogarty (1-1), Cathal McNally (0-4), Conor Tiernan (0-3), Tommy Moolick (0-1), Mick O'Grady (0-1), Gary White (0-1), Fergal Conway (0-1), Sean Hurley (0-1).

AIT were pitiful. I don't think Kildare will have learned anything about their new players.

[Gael85]

Good to see Shane O'Rourke back - he has missed a few games over the Christmas period despite being named to start. Not sure why. Hopefully we finally get to see him back in Meath colours.

I would say Mick O'Dowd is picking from a panel of about 22 or 23 with injuries and college commitments. It's hardly ideal. But it looks a very strong line-up for Sunday.

I would expect DIT will be very strong too as Sigerson Cup champions.

They have a good panel still but winning the Sigerson doesn't mean much when players are only there for 3-4 years, you lose something like 30% of your Sigerson panel every year. AOS is back out Wesht now so they've lost the key piece of that dominant midfield even if Givney is still there.

Have they lost much from last year's starting team Syferus?

Trying to find the 2014 panel but the best I could see was a clearly out-of-date one on their website: http://www.ditgaa.ie/football/senior/management-a-players.html

I know for sure that Alan Freeman graduated in 2012 so it's hard to divine much from it.

DIT panel for today game

Cian Daly Fingal Ravens B.A.C
Kevin O Brien Naomh Mearnóg B.A.C
Bryan Menton © Donaghmore Ashbourne An Mhí
Gary O Hare Na Piarsaigh An Lú
Nick Devereux Ballinteer St. Johns B.A.C
Michael Shields St. Finbarrs Corcaigh
Ross Sheridan Killygarry An Cábhán
Ross Hazley St. Sylvesters B.A.C
Shane O Connor St. Sylvesters B.A.C
Ciaran Reddin St. Maurs B.A.C
Peter Achenson Moyle Rovers Tiobraid Arann
Darren O Reilly Ballyboden St Endas B.A.C
Bernard Allen Tubber Uibh Fhailí
Conor Grimes Glen Emmetts An Lú
Niall Scully Templelogue Synge Street B.A.C
Adam O Reilly Mountmellick Laoise
Pauraic Cunningham St. Grellans Ballinasloe An Gallimh
Michael O Hehir St. Johns Sligeach
Thomas O Connor Clane Cill Dara
Teddy Cronin Clontarf B.A.C.
Colm Doyle Naomh Olafs B.A.C
Michael Argue Baileborough Shamrocks An Cábhán
Conor Madden Gowna An Cábhán
Stephen Cooney Castlerahan An Cábhán
Bernard Deay Clane Cill Dara
Conor Ryan St. Sylvesters B.A.C.

[Jinxy]

Michael Shields is in DIT now?

[Shamrock Shore]

God. Carlow were putrid in the first half today. Bit better in the second half but Longford were never troubled.

Group decider this Wed in Cashel under lights v Kildare.

If Dinny or DH need directions then let us know

[rodney trotter]

Yeah first year in DIT,  Peter Achenson from tipp good addition too, was with ucc previously. They were without Darren O Sullivan through injury, and O Connor with kildare

[Jinxy]

I believe Menton played most of the game out around the middle today.
I'd love to see him centre-back this year.

[Sea The Stars]

A good enough start for Meath. I'd expect them to beat Carlow IT on Wednesday as well. Although Eamonn Wallace is now on the injury list at least for now. Meath have about 20 fit and available players by the sound of things. So it's hardly ideal.