Wins for Dublin, Meath, AIT and Louth

Leinster champions Dublin were forced to dig deep against a determined Wexford side, before taking a 2-10 to 0-8 O'Byrne Cup first round win at Parnell Park.

The sides were level at 0-4 each at the end of a scrappy opening half, with Dublin reduced to 14 men just before the interval following a straight red card for a high challenge by full-forward Eoghan O'Gara.

Better fare was produced on the restart with two second half penalties slotted to the net by Kevin McMenamin and Blaine Kelly.

Ben Wallace was among those who tried hardest in this game for a Wexford side that will face Longford in the O'Byrne Shield next weekend.

Dublin will now face their old rivals Meath in the last-eight of the cup after the Royals were 2-13 to 0-13 winners over Longford at Ballymahon today.

Eamonn O'Brien's charges had to fight all the way for the win.

Longford put in a strong first half display and established a 0-10 to 1-3 interval lead, with a Jamie Queeney goal keeping Meath in touch.

But with Longford missing 13 of last year's side, the visitors almost inevitably turned on the style in the second half with Joe Sheridan netting their second goal.

Meanwhile, Cavan's Ray Galligan showed great accuracy for Athlone IT as the students dumped Carlow out of the O'Byrne Cup, following a 0-12 to 0-8 win at Dr Cullen Park.

Galligan, Paul Bannon and David Egan were impressive for the students who held a 0-6 to 0-3 half-time lead.

Simon Rea done his utmost to keep Carlow in touch, but with Westmeath’s Gary Connaughton between the posts for the students, they held out for a quarter-final place.

Elsewhere, Louth made the journey to Aughrim worthwhile with a 2-18 to 0-11 first round win over Wicklow.

Peter Fitzpatrick's side led by 2-9 to 0-4 at the break, with their goals coming courtesy of Brian White and JP Rooney.

And although Mick O'Dwyer's charges bounced back in the second half with an excellent display by Ciaran Jones, the visitors held on for the victory.