O'Dwyer starts tenure as Laois boss with loss

Mick O'Dwyer's stint as Laois manager started off on the wrong foot this afternoon following a three point defeat to Longford…

Mick O'Dwyer's stint as Laois manager started off on the wrong foot this afternoon following a three point defeat to Longford in the O'Byrne Cup.

Paul Bardon, Padraig Davis and Padraig Shanley pointed Longford into a 0-7 to 0-3 lead at the interval.

Laois took the initiative in the second half and took the lead after 12 minutes following a run of five successive points.

But Longford finished the half as they started the first and further points from Davis and Shanley edged them into an untouchable lead.

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Longford play Meath in the next round.

Holders Carlow relinquished their crown today, suffering a three point loss to Wicklow in Aughrim.

Wicklow boss John O'Leary experimented by introducing six new players and his side got off to a flyer when Wayne O'Gorman crashed home a goal after just two minutes.

But Carlow retaliated immediately when Simon Rae converted a spot kick after he was pulled down when bearing in on goal.

Wicklow led 1-8 to 1-4 at the break.

Free taker Anthony Nolan, scorer of 1-8 on the day, edged Wicklow further ahead after the break to leave holders Carlow struggling.

Substitute Mark Kelly saw his goalbound effort cannon back off the crossbar but Nolan was at hand to poke the ball over the line.

Carlow replied with a Eddie McGarry goal but the game was beyond them by that stage.

Wicklow play Dublin at Parnell Park next week.

O'Byrne Cup results

Wexford 0-17 Kilkenny 1-06
Longford 0-13 Laois 0-10
Westmeath 0-13 Louth 0-11
Wicklow 2-12 Carlow 2-9

Dr McKenna Cup

Fermanagh P-P Tyrone