Round-up: Dioralyte O'Byrne Cup Round 1

Dublin 4-14 Laois 1-17

Kildare 2-12 Wexford 0-9

Offaly 3-14 Carlow 3-9

Meath 2-11 Wicklow 1-12

By Paul Keane

Let the record books show that the Ger Brennan era started with a win at the Ratheniska GAA grounds in Laois.

In freezing conditions, a new look Dublin panel produced some quality passages of football too, taking the win and their place in next weekend's semi-final against Kildare.

Niall O'Callaghan was the only player to line out in the opening round encounter who'd also played under Dessie Farrell last year.

O'Callaghan, brother of Dublin star Con, was made captain for the day and clearly enjoyed the responsibility, firing a match-winning 1-6.

The Cuala star's goal came in the opening minutes and Robert Shaw, Tim Deering and Eoin Kennedy grabbed the other three-pointers in the eventual six-point win.

Laois were closer to full strength and there was a welcome cameo from Evan O'Carroll who fired 0-6 after missing all of 2025 with a knee injury. Mikie Dempsey also came on after his own long-term knee issues.

But the new look Dubs controlled the game after a slow opening quarter and blasted four second-half two pointers.

They'll face Tailteann Cup holders, Kildare, in the last four of the pre-season competition next Saturday and will stick with the same development squad, according to Brennan.

"We've looked at over 130 players, from 36 different clubs, from Division 1 in Dublin down to Division 4, from Senior A football down to Junior A football," said Brennan. "We had guys on the squad today from Division 4 club teams who will get game time again next weekend."

John Small and Stephen Cluxton departed the squad after the 2025 Championship but Brennan said no-one else has left the group.

That's a big boost and appears to mean that ultra experienced stars like David Byrne, Niall Scully, 'King Con' and Ciaran Kilkenny will all go again in blue.

"They guys who have gone are gone and have given great service to Dublin," said former Louth manager Brennan. "Everyone else is working hard behind the scenes and trying to get the bodies right."

Brennan will bring back his big guns for the start of the National League on January 24, against Donegal at Croke Park.

Next weekend's tie against Kildare will give another chance for players like midfielder Kevin Stephenson, Jack Lundy and the third O'Callaghan brother, Eoghan, to impress again.

Laois will have a second outing too, in the O'Byrne Cup shield next Saturday.

But it looked like they might take the win here after a strong start left them 0-8 to 1-0 clear.

O'Callaghan's palmed goal early on was all Dublin had to show on the scoreboard until their next score in the 21st minute, a Sean Guiden point.

But they upped the ante after that and goals from Shaw and Deering before the break left them 3-3 to 0-10 up.

Laois were always going to be up against it in the second-half as Dublin had the breeze.

And the Sky Blues took full advantage with three Niall O'Callaghan two-pointers and another from sub Clyde Burke.

Longford's tie with Westmeath couldn't go ahead due to an unplayable pitch. A coin toss to see who would advance to the quarter-final went Westmeath's way. So Westmeath will play Leinster champions Louth on Wednesday evening.

Meath will play Offaly in the other quarter-final on the same evening after both sides pulled through their respective Round 1 games.

Diarmuid Moriarty and Killian Smyth struck first-half goals for a second string Meath side that endured a spirited comeback from Wicklow to win by 2-11 to 1-12.

Offaly came from behind with two goals in the closing minutes to beat Carlow by 3-14 to 3-9.

Kildare made it through to the semi-finals with a 2-12 to 0-9 win over Wexford in Enniscorthy. Darragh Swords and Sam Doran struck the goals for Brian Flanagan's side.

Dublin scorers: Niall O'Callaghan 1-6 (3 tp), Robert Shaw 1-0, Tim Deering 1-0, Eoin Kennedy 1-0, Clyde Burke 0-3 (1 tp), Sean Guiden 0-3 (0-1f), Kevin Stephenson 0-1, Jack Lundy 0-1.

Laois scorers: Evan O'Carroll 0-6 (0-1f), Killian Byrne 1-0, Killian Roche 0-3 (1 tpf, 0-1 45), Brian Byrne 0-2, Matthew Byron 0-2 (tpf), Cian Doyle 0-1 (0-1f), Ben O'Connor 0-1, Patrick O'Sullivan 0-1, Colin Dunne 0-1.

DUBLIN: Sam Moloney; Eoghan O'Callaghan, Finn Bruton, Josh Bannon; Paidi White, Tim Deering, Robert Shaw; Jack Feehan, Kevin Stephenson; James McCormack, Jack Lundy, Dylan Knight-Sands; Sean Guiden, Niall O'Callaghan, Conor Chawke.

Subs: Liam Smith for Bruton h/t, Jamie McCarville for Chawke h/t, Eoin Kennedy for Knight-Sands h/t, Rory O'Brien for Moloney 40, Clyde Burke for Feehan 40, Dan Murphy for Lundy 40, Dylan Kettle for Eoghan O'Callaghan 40, Fiachra Potts for Bannon 54, Cillian Dunne for McCormack 54.

LAOIS: Killian Roche; Conaire Gee, Trevor Collins, Ben O'Connor; Jack Lacey, Kevin Swayne, Aaron McEvoy; Robert Tyrrell, Conor Heffernan; Killian Byrne, Cian Doyle, Josh Hogan; Nial Corbett, Brian Byrne, Evan O'Carroll.

Subs: Mikie Dempsey for Heffernan h/t, Matthew Byron for Roche h/t, Cathal Lee for Lacey 40, Patrick O'Sullivan for Corbet 40, Daniel Boland for Gee 46, Colin Dunne for O'Carroll 46, Joey Shelly for Hogan 56.

Referee: James Foley (Carlow).