Coyle gives Royals’ youth a chance in student test

MEATH may have reemerged as a serious force last year but Colm Coyle has not rested on his laurels, having spent the off-season injecting new blood into the panel.

The Royals will begin their season at Navan tonight against UCD in the O’Byrne Cup and nine players will be making their debuts for the hosts.

The Leinster title, claimed by their minors of 2006, was the county’s first provincial success of any description in five years and two of that side’s cornerstones — corner back David Donegan and Eoin Reilly at midfield — have been drafted into the senior set-up.