McEnaney begins Royal reign with loss to UCD

IT had been billed as the beginning of a new era for Meath football but Seamus McEnaney’s first game in charge of the Royals was a losing outing, with UCD snatching a dramatic victory in the refixed O’Byrne Cup opener in Navan last night.

The win was secured with an added time goal from Josh Hayes, denying the home side after their keeper, Brendan Murphy, had kept out a Ciaran Lyng attempt.

UCD fielded notable inter-county performers like current All Star Peter Kelly of Kildare, Dublin’s Michael Fitzsimons, Kevin McGourty of Antrim and Wexford forward Lyng. However, Kelly was stretchered off with a knee injury after just three minutes.