Dublin, DCU, Kildare, Athlone IT, Offaly, Meath and holders Louth all enjoyed winning starts to their O'Byrne Cup campaigns yesterday. Despite fielding an experimental line-up and having newcomer Eoghan O'Gara sent off on a straight red card just before half-time, Dublin recorded a 2-10 to 0-8 victory over Wexford at Parnell Park. The sides were level on 0-5 apiece at the interval, but the introduction of Brendan McManamon turned the game in the home side's favour as he kicked four points and earned Dublin's first penalty, which Blaine Kelly slotted home in the 44th minute. Wexford closed the margin to two points, 0-8 to 1-7 thanks to two points from Ben Brosnan before Kevin McManamon sealed the issue with a 66th minute penalty after being taken down by David Murphy. In Mullingar, Brendan Hackett's reign as Westmeath boss got off to a poor start when his new-look side crashed to a 0-8 to 0-18 defeat to a star-studded DCU outfit. With established inter-county stars Bryan Cullen, Seanie Johnston, Donal Shine and David Kelly to the fore, the students led by 0-8 to 0-2 at half-time. It got worse for Westmeath in the second half as DCU pulled clear for a 10-point win. Kildare overcame the sending off of All-Star midfielder Dermot Earley for a second yellow card to edge past DCU by 0-16 to 1-11 at Newbridge. The Sarsfields clubman received his marching orders following an altercation with Laois man John O'Loughlin straight after the restart. Despite a 33rd minute goal from Longford's Francis McGee, the Lilywhites led by 0-9 to 1-5 at the break and with Robert Kelly in unerring form from placed balls, they managed to keep their noses in front throughout the second half. Athlone IT came away from Dr Cullen Park with a 0-12 to 0-8 victory over Luke Dempsey's Carlow. The Westmeath side laid the foundations for their win in the first 22 minutes when they opened up a 0-6 to 0-0 lead thanks to efforts from Ray Galligan, Frank Burke, David Egan, David Reilly and John Reynolds. Carlow reduced the deficit to 0-3 to 0-6 at half-time and the margin was down to two points, 0-8 to 0-10, before late points from Paul Bannon and Reynolds made sure of the students' success. Offaly set up a quarter-final date with DCU after hammering Kilkenny by 1-23 to 0-8 in Thomastown. The only goal was scored by Sean Ryan in the first half. In Ballymahon, Joe Sheridan bagged 1-3 as Meath came from behind to beat Longford by 2-13 to 0-13. Glenn Ryan's experimental side made the most of the strong wind to lead by 0-10 to 1-3 at the break, but within seven minutes of the restart, Meath had posted an unanswered 1-5 to take the lead. Sheridan accounted for 1-2 of that, with his goal coming in the 42nd minute. Meanwhile, holders Louth produced the performance of the day when they walloped Mick O'Dwyer's Wicklow by 2-18 to 0-11 in Baltinglass. Peter Fitzpatrick's charges were by far the better side with Paddy Keenan and Sean O'Neill dominating midfield. JP Rooney, Brian White and Colin Judge had a field day in the full forward line - combining for a total of 2-11. Tweet

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