O'Byrne Cup senior football, Round 1

Dublin 2-15 Wicklow 0-9

Kildare 1-18 Wexford 0-11

Louth 1-8 Westmeath 0-9

Meath 0-16 Carlow 1-9

Longford 3-18 Laois 0-13

By Paul Keane

Experimental Dublin, with Ger Lyons as the stand in manager, took a while to get going in Baltinglass before eventually turning on the style and surging to an impressive O'Byrne Cup Round 1 win.

Lyons, flanked by regular manager Dessie Farrell on the sideline at the Wicklow venue, used all his options on the evening, handing game time to 25 different players, and will have been particularly pleased with Killian O'Gara, younger brother of former star Eoghan, who sniped 1-4.

A game that hung in the balance for almost 40 minutes was ultimately decided by a burst of scoring midway through the second-half when Dublin soared clear.

O'Gara, who previously played in the 2018 and 2020 competitions, got the first goal, Colm Basquel the second and just like that Oisin McConville was resigned to defeat in his first game as Wicklow manager.

Not that the Armagh great will be overly concerned about the setback though his side did get opened up a little too easily in the final 20 minutes or so.

Wicklow will return to action on Saturday against Offaly in Round 2, away, while Dublin will also face the Faithful in their next game on Wednesday.

Fielding a team with just one player who featured in last year's Championship, attacker Brian O'Leary, tournament holders Dublin essentially went with an U-23 squad.

Wing-back CJ Smith was the only Dubliner who played in last year's National League though Lyons did have seven players in his lineup who were involved in the 2022 O'Byrne Cup success.

McConville opted to assess all his options too and it made for a cagey, low scoring encounter at first which was tied twice in the opening half.

Wicklow deployed Eoin Murtagh, wearing the number 14 jersey, as a sweeper, leaving Greg McEnaeaney as the free Dublin man and the Skerries man had a strong game.

Dublin suggested that they may put on the afterburners when they sniped three points in a row between the 22nd and 27th minutes but that was as good as it got for them.

O'Gara was the Sky Blues' most potent forward and put in a big shift for 60 minutes, dropping deep into defence at times and typically involved in their most threatening attacks.

Playing into a stiff wind, Dublin worked the ball initially through the hand cleverly and were aided by hard running wing backs Adam Fearon and Smith who offered plenty going forward.

O'Leary was dangerous for the Dubs too while Mark Lavin helped himself to three points overall.

Dublin hit the interval with a narrow 0-6 to 0-5 lead and while the sides were level again briefly at 0-6 apiece, it was all about the power and quality of the visitors from there on.

O'Gara grabbed Dublin's first goal in the 40th minute though it was as much down to Lavin's great work after a burst of pace down the left and ball across.

Eight minutes later, McEneaney surged up the pitch and passed over the top for the onrushing Basquel to slot low to the bottom right corner of the Wicklow net.

Dublin introduced 10 subs in all while Wicklow made eight changes. The switches appeared to take from Wicklow though Dublin, if anything, improved as the game wore on and there were late scores from subs Sean Kinsella and Karl Lynch-Bissett.

Lyons was involved with the Dublin U-20 management last season and opted to use a large number of players who starred in past U-20 teams, including the sides that reached All-Ireland finals in 2020 and 2021.

Hugh O'Sullivan, in goals for the U-20s last season, started in goals and kept a clean sheet while Adam Waddick, who played three seasons as an U-20, impressed at midfield next to Killian McGinnis.

On a heavy pitch and with the rain sheeting in at times, Wicklow will still be unhappy with their shooting and the nine wides they clocked up.

Jack Kirwan impressed from wing-forward for the Garden County and had a great chance for a goal early in the second-half but blazed over - and Dublin turned the screw shortly after with their own net blasts.

Dublin scorers: Killian O'Gara 1-4 (0-2f), Colm Basquel 1-0, Mark Lavin 0-3, Ross McGarry 0-2, Killian McGinnis 0-1, Brian O'Leary 0-1, Adam Waddick 0-1, Luke Breathnach 0-1, Sean Kinsella 0-1, Karl Lynch Bissett 0-1

Wicklow scorers: Kevin Quinn 0-4 (0-3f), Mark Jackson 0-2 (0-2f), Cathal Baker 0-1, Mark Kenny 0-1, Jack Kirwan 0-1.

Dublin: Hugh O'Sullivan; Ben Millist, Dara Newcombe, Darragh Conlon; Adam Fearon, Greg McEneaney, CJ Smith; Killian McGinnis, Adam Waddick; Mark Lavin, Alex Wright, Ross McGarry; Killian O'Gara, Colm Basquel, Brian O'Leary.

Subs: Luke Breathnach for McGarry (42), Liam Smith for Smith (54), Peter Duffy for O'Leary (56), Conor Tyrrell for Fearon, Kevin Lahiff for O'Gara (60), Dean Robertson for Wright (62), Josh Bannon for Conlon (70), Karl Lynch-Bissett for McGinnis (70), Robert Shaw for Waddick (70), Sean Kinsella for Basquel (70).

Wicklow: Mark Jackson; Malachy Stone, Tom Moran, Karl Furlong; Eoin Murtagh; Tom Maher, Zach Cullen, Jacques McCall; JP Hurley, Padraig O'Toole; Jack Kirwan, Mark Kenny, Cathal Baker; Kevin Quinn, Eoin Darcy.

Subs: Cillian McDonald for McCall (38), Fintan O'Shea for Maher (38), Craig Maguire for Hurley (45), Joe Prendergast for Baker (45), Tommy Kelly for Darcy (50), Adam McHugh for Kenny (56), Simon Bouchier (St Patrick's) for Moran (63), Paddy Whelan (Baltinglass) for Kirwan (66).

Referee: Kieran Harris (Kildare).