By Cóilín Duffy It was a busy day on the football front across the country with a total of 17 games as the new experimental disciplinary rules kept teams on their toes in the O'Byrne Cup, McKenna Cup, McGrath Cup and FBD League. No yellow cards were produced at St. Conleth's Park in Newbridge as Meath referee David Coldrick was wired up for RTÉ TV News as Kildare took a 1-12 to 0-9 win over Wexford. A 22nd minute James Kavanagh goal proved decisive as the Lilywhites, minus their free taker John Doyle, took a 1-5 to 0-5 interval lead. Wexford upped their game on the restart thanks to good work from Jason Murphy, Ciaran Deely and Shane Cullen and although Kildare's wides tally continued to mount, good work by defender Michael Conway helped them snuff out a win. Kildare will face Meath next weekend after the Royals powered to a 1-17 to 0-7 victory over Westmeath at Páirc Tailteann. Trailing by 0-5 to 0-0 after 12 minutes, the Royals staged a complete turnaround with Cian Ward top-scoring with 1-5 while Graham Reilly also in excellent form for the eventual winners. At Drogheda Louth were in stunning form as they took a 2-14 to 1-2 win over UCD. The Wee County only leaked a goal in the second half with Mayo's Mark Ronaldson on target for the students. Eamonn McEneaney's side will face Longford in the next round after Glenn Ryan's debut game as their manager got off to a winning note at Ballymahon. A first half goal from Padraig Shanley gave the hosts the upper hand as they held out for a 2-12 to 1-7 win. A brace of second half goals from Mark Nolan and Robert Shore for Kilkenny almost had DIT rattled at Freshford, as the students were forced to dig deep to carve out a 0-18 to 2-6 win. DIT led by 0-6 to 0-3 at half-time thanks to a trio of Mark Vaughan points but were rocked on the restart as the Cats goals gave Kilkenny a 2-4 to 0-7 lead. However DIT's experience shone through as they weathered the storm to take a six-point win. DIT will face DCU next weekend after the North Dublin University accounted for Laois by 1-14 to 1-13 at Portarlington. Conor Mortimer top-scored for the students with seven points and although the Mayo native was sin-binned late on and Laois got through for a Donal Brennan goal, DCU stood firm until the end. A severely understrength Dublin had no problems in disposing of Offaly by 0-15 to 1-7 at O'Connor Park, Tullamore. John O'Brien and Derek Byrne both registered five points for the Dubs, with Aidan Relihan hitting a trio of scores as Offaly's hopes were kept alive thanks to a late Thomas Deehan first half goal. Dublin will meet neighbours Wicklow next weekend at Parnell Park after the Garden County accounted for Carlow by 2-10 to 1-8 with a late Alan Nolan goal sending Mick O'Dwyer's side through to the next round. In the Gaelic Life Dr. McKenna Cup there were wins for Donegal, Down and Armagh while Fermanagh and Derry played a thrilling draw at Brewster Park. That Section A encounter at Enniskillen saw a late Derry flourish cancelled out by a Ciaran McElroy point in this 1-7 to 0-10 draw for the Oak Leafers. Damien Cassidy's new charges bagged 1-3 in the space of four minutes including a Joe Diver goal ensuring a late one-point cushion until McElroy's late score ensured a share of the points. Also in Section A goals from Brian Roper, Stephen Griffen and Ross Wherrity secured a 3-14 to 0-13 win for Donegal over UUJ at Ballybofey. In section B Down had 15 points to spare in their 3-16 to 0-10 win over St. Mary's Belfast with Cathal Magee (2) and John Fagan giving Ross Carr's side a second half hat-trick. Meanwhile in Section C Armagh edged Antrim by 0-12 to 0-10 at the Athletic Grounds thanks to late scores from Malachy Mackin, Brian Mallon, JP Donnelly and Conor Clarke. In the FBD Connacht League NUI Galway, Roscommon and GMIT registered victories. First half goals from Cathal McHugh and Cathal Devaney provided the bedrock for a 2-10 to 1-8 NUI Galway victory over Mayo at Dangan. Gary Cox top-scored with 1-7 in Roscommon's first game under new boss Fergal O'Donnell as they romped to a 3-13 to 0-5 win over IT Sligo at Boyle; while Roscommon's Donal Shine bagged 1-6 as GMIT held out for a slender 1-9 to 0-11 win at Tuam Stadium. Meanwhile in the McGrath Cup despite Colm O'Neill bagging a 55th minute penalty for Cork IT, the students succumbed to a 1-15 to 2-8 defeat against Cork at Páirc Uí Rinn; while UL held out for a 1-9 to 1-7 win over Limerick at Foynes. Results Sunday 4 January Dr McKenna Cup Fermanagh 0-10 Derry 1-7 Donegal 3-14 UUJ 0-13 Down 3-16 St. Mary's 0-10 Armagh 0-12 Antrim 0-10 McGrath Cup Cork 1-15 CIT 2-8 Limerick 1-7 UL 1-9 O'Byrne Cup Kildare 1-12 Wexford 0-9 Kilkenny 2-6 DIT 0-18 Laois 1-13 DCU 1-14 Longford 2-12 Athlone IT 1-7 Louth 2-14 UCD 1-2 Meath 1-17 Westmeath 0-7 Offaly 1-7 Dublin 0-15 Wicklow 2-10 Carlow 1-8 FBD Connacht FL NUIG 2-10 Mayo 1-8 Roscommon 3-13 Sligo IT 0-5 GMIT 1-9 Leitrim 0-11 Saturday 3 January Dr McKenna Cup Cavan 0-12 Queens 3-13 McGrath Cup Waterford 3-11 IT Tralee 3-9 FBD Connacht FL Sligo 0-12 Galway 0-14 Tweet

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