O'Byrne Cup and Shield round-up

Reigning champions DCU crashed out of the O'Byrne Cup this afternoon, as Kieran McGeeney's Kildare side marched into the semi-finals of the early season competition.

At St. Conleth's Park in Newbridge, Kildare beat DCU on a 1-11 to 0-9 scoreline and did most of the damage during a lively opening half.

All of the Lilywhites' first half scores came from open play as they moved 1-8 to 0-4 ahead for half-time. Their goal was fisted to the net by Fionn Dowling, after David White dropped a '45' in towards the danger area.

Free-taker Donie Shine opened the score for DCU, but Hugh Lynch Tom Moolick and Eamonn Callaghan were quick to respond for the hosts.

Points from Mark O'Sullivan, Karl Ennis and Moolick ensured a 1-6 to 0-1 lead for Kildare, and Padraig O'Neill added two monster scores as the tempo increased.

Roscommon duo Cathal Cregg and Shine added to DCU's tally before the break, but despite the best efforts of the students in the second half, Kildare made it two wins in-a-row.

There was also disappointment for the students of DIT as Westmeath beat them 1-9 to 0-8 in today's quarter-final clash at Pairc Chiarain in Athlone.

Pat Flanagan made eight changes to the team that beat Dublin on Tuesday night, and his charges certainly stepped up to the challenge.

Westmeath laid down a firm marker with David Glennon converting a 26th minute penalty to help them to a 1-5 to 0-6 interval lead.

Diarmuid Connolly and Gareth Bradshaw led the scoring for DIT. The closing 35 minutes proved to be low scoring, and Westmeath were able to outscore the visitors by four points to two.

The experienced Dessie Dolan kicked three inspirational points for the hosts in the second half, as his side booked a semi-final berth.

Last year's beaten O'Byrne Cup finalists, Louth, withstood a determined second half comeback from Wicklow before sealing a 2-13 to 1-12 win at Drogheda.

Louth led by 2-6 to 0-6 at half-time, with a brace of Derek Maguire goals providing the difference.

Indeed, Peter Fitzpatrick's charges left two more goals behind them in the opening 35 minutes. Shane Lennon had his penalty saved by Wicklow goalkeeper John Flynn, who also impressively blocked a goal-bound shot by Niall Donnell in the 20th minute.

Wicklow responded well on the restart, with points from Tony Hannon, Leighton Glynn and Niall Gaffney. A Seanie Furlong goal helped cut the deficit to two points late on, but Louth maintained their lead to set up a semi-final date with UCD next weekend.

The Belfield outfit were pushed all the way by a game Carlow side, before they emerged as 0-13 to 0-10 winners at Tullow.

Westmeath's John Heslin and John O'Loughlin of Laois were among those who impressed for this talented UCD team.

Meanwhile, in the O'Byrne Shield, it took extra-time to separate Laois and Athlone IT at McCann Park in Portarlington. Eventually, Justin McNulty's Laois side edged home on a 1-11 to 0-12 scoreline.

Laois held a slender 0-7 to 0-6 lead at half-time in normal time, having had a four-point advantage whittled away. It was equally tight in the second half, with points from Frank Burke and Cathal Shine edging Athlone IT to a late 0-10 to 0-8 lead.

A Colm Coss point secured extra-time for the hosts at 0-10 apiece, and Laois were the stronger in extra-time. Donal Brennan's goal put them through to a semi-final against Meath next Sunday.

Offaly mustered a slender 1-9 to 1-8 victory over Longford at Pearse Park. Tom Cribbin's side led by 1-5 to 0-4 at half-time, with Brian Kelly netting their goal.

Longford bounced back thanks to a Noel Farrell goal at the start of the final quarter, but Offaly dug deep to regain the lead and progress through.

At Parnell Park, Dublin recovered from their midweek loss to Westmeath to claim a runaway 6-10 to 1-8 win over Wexford.

Pat Gilroy's charges were in goal-hungry mood with six players finding the visitors' net. Kevin McManamon and Graham Cullen were the goal scorers in the opening half as Dublin led by 2-9 to 0-4 at half-time.

Wexford offered little resistance on the restart, with Padraig Lee, Bernard Brogan, Eoghan O'Gara and Dean Kelly firing home Dublin's other goals.