O’Byrne Cup first round: Report round-up

WICKLOW 1-5 DUBLIN 0-10, Aughrim

LOUTH 4-11 DIT 2-9, Drogheda

LONGFORD 1-10 UCD 0-9, Longford

KILKENNY 2-11 ATHLONE IT 1-12, Kilkenny

LAOIS 2-11 OFFALY 2-9, Portlaoise

Dublin's Under-21s overcame four sin-binnings and defender Nicky McGrath's second-half red card to defeat a gallant Wicklow 0-10 to 1-5 in the O'Byrne Cup at Aughrim.

Paddy Canning's side - gearing up for March's Leinster Championship - advanced to a quarter final against Louth next weekend as forwards Mark Vaughan and Bernard Brogan struck four points apiece.

Three points from Oliver Plunketts' Brogan, son of 1979 All-Star Bernard senior, and two Vaughan frees saw the visitors 0-5 to 0-3 in front as the first half came to an end.

However a poor challenge from McGrath saw the Kilmacud Crokes back sin-binned, with the competition adopting the GAA's experimental rules for 2005.

The foul earned Wicklow a 35th-minute penalty, and Jonathan Daniels duly dispatched it to gift Hugh Kenny's side a surprise half time lead.

McGrath saw red on 58 minutes as Dublin went down to 13 men - with Brendan Phelan also yellow carded - but points from Vaughan, Brogan and St Brigid's midfielder Dabhach Dineen saw the Capital side through.

Daniels (1-1) and Anacurra marksman Clive Horan (0-2) headed the home challenge, with Gary Doran one of two Wicklow players sin-binned.

Elsewhere, Louth struck four goals past DIT in Drogheda for a 4-11 to 2-9 win.

Longford had enough to account for UCD - thanks to a first half goal - as they ran out 1-10 to 0-9 winners over the students, while there were also home victories for both Laois and Kilkenny.

They meet each other in the last eight - with Longford v Westmeath and Meath v Kildare completing next weekend's quarter final line-up.

Elsewhere, Louth struck four goals past DIT in Drogheda for a 4-11 to 2-9 win.

21-year-old Ardee ace Darren Clarke pocketed two of those.

Longford had enough to account for UCD - thanks to a first half Derek Smyth goal - as they ran out 1-10 to 0-9 winners over the students, while there were also home victories for both Laois and Kilkenny.

Noel Garvan and Padraig McMahon both found the Offaly net in Laois' 2-11 to 2-9 win over their midlands rivals.

Mick O'Dwyer's side meet Kilkenny in next Sunday's last eight - with Longford v Westmeath and Meath v Kildare completing the quarter final line-up.