O’Byrne Cup 2023

Wicklow 0-09

Dublin 2-15

Small margins can make big differences and so it proved as a youthful Dublin side dispatched their two second half goal chances to take command of this O Byrne Cup opener in front of a massive crowd in a damp Baltinglass. With only a point between the sides at the halftime break the game appeared set to go to the wire but right from the second half throw in it was Wicklow who opened up the Dublin defence but Jack Kirwan couldn’t keep his goal effort down and it whizzed over the crossbar to the relief of Dublin keeper Hugh O Sullivan and his side swiftly went back down the field with a quick point in reply to restore the lead quickly followed by a killer Killian O Gara goal to take his tally to 1-04 and the Dublin attack found its accuracy with a flurry of points and Colm Basquel found the Wicklow net once again to put Dublin out of sight.

Wicklow’s wide count was worryingly high with a host of placed balls and open play efforts going wide with conditions a factor but not sufficient an excuse for the amount of missed chances but on a damp night in early January the side that could bag a goal was always likely to be in the Winners Enclosure and the Dubs two goals within minutes proved the catalyst.

In fairness Wicklow’s work-rate continued to the end but there’s plenty of work to do but you do feel that the more the ground hardens in the coming months the more it will suit this youthful squad with some experienced campaigners returning to the ranks.

Match Scorers