O'Byrne Cup opens with Laois win

Laois were without the services of former AFL player Colm Begley as the O'Moore men opened the 2010 O'Byrne Cup with a 2-9 to 1-9 win over DIT at Graiguecullen tonight.

A 67th minute goal from Cathal Og Greene provided crucial as Laois overturned a four-point deficit.

The sides were level on five occasions during the opening half with MJ Tierney's goal on the half-hour mark giving the hosts a 1-5 to 0-5 interval lead.

Cavan's Martin Reilly kept DIT in touch with three first half points, and although the students took the lead thanks to a 44th minute penalty goal from Dublin marksman Diarmuid Connolly, Laois closed out the win in impressive fashion.

Tierney top-scored for Laois with 1-3 (0-3f), while Connolly led the way for the students with 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-4f).

Meanwhile, Martin Clarke made his competitive debut for Down as James McCartan’s side scored a 1-17 to 0-8 win over Queen’s University at Newry tonight.

Down seized the initiative in Group C of the Barrett Sports Lighting Dr McKenna Cup, with Clarke, back on the scene after a successful stint with AFL side Collingwood, slotting home a second half penalty.

The 2005 All-Ireland minor winner hit a tidy 1-6, while his brother John Clarke and Paul McComiskey scored 0-3 apiece.

Down were 0-9 to 0-6 to the good at half-time and built on their dominance around midfield and in the half-forwards.

Queen’s never stopped trying but relied too much on frees, with James Kielt succeeding with five places and Gerard McAleese and Michael Ward (0-2) also on target.

Donegal got the better of Cavan in tonight’s Group B encounter at Kingspan Breffni Park, claiming a 0-11 to 0-9 triumph.

John Joe Doherty’s men overturned a 0-4 to 0-3 half-time deficit, with Gareth Concarr catching the eye by scoring three points.

Michael Murphy, who was introduced as a second half substitute, also helped turn the game in the visitors’ favour with two points after the break.

Cavan will feel they should have won this game, however, and an over-reliance on Gareth Smyth for scores - he finished with a seven-point tally - hampered them in the end.