New Meath manager Andy McEntee.
The 2017 O’Byrne Cup gets underway on Saturday when **Kildare **host Longford at Newbridge.
Longford have been boosted by the return to the fold of talented inside-forward Sean McCormack who opted out of the inter-county set-up for the last two years.
He starts at corner-forward for tomorrow’s match against the Lilywhites in a Longford team that also includes his brother Padraig McCormack at centre-back.
It’s a strong looking Longford selection despite the absence of star-man Michael Quinn who has been ruled out until March after surgery with a broken ankle.
Reigning O’Byrne Cup champions Meath, begin the defence of their title with a home match against Wicklow at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday.
It’s newly appointed manager Andy McEntee’s first competitive match in charge, but he’s already had a chance to run the rule over his panel in challenge matches against Roscommon, Westmeath, and Louth.
He’s named a side that’s a mixture of old hands and new faces for Sunday’s game.
Bryan Menton makes a return at midfield after opting out of inter-county football last year while other experienced campaigners like Donal Keogan, Mickey Burke, and Graham Reilly also start.
Goalkeeper Jack Hannigan and corner-forward Kevin Ross make their inter-county debuts.
The O’Byrne Cup is the only competition that Dublin didn’t win in 2016, and their chances of doing so in 2017 look slim.
That’s because most of their team are on a holiday in Jamaica as a reward for winning the Sam Maguire Cup in 2016.
Paul Clarke will manage the team in the absence of Jim Gavin, and will have little option but to experiment for their opening match against DCU because the core of the panel are overseas.
Newly appointed Wexford manager Seamus McEnaney starts his reign with a home match against UCD.
‘Banty’ is currently working off an extended panel of 36 players and intends to give all of them a chance to impress in the O’Byrne Cup.
“I will be cutting my panel at the end of the O'Byrne Cup,” McEnaney told GAA.ie this week.
“It will be used for formulating the panel for the League. The only game we have any interest in talking about is the first game of the League against Limerick at Wexford Park. That is an important game for Wexford football, it is the only game of any interest to us at the moment.”
Newly appointed Laois manager, Peter Creedon, begins his reign with a home match against DIT.
He’ll have to plan without two of his most experienced players, Brendan Quigley and Mark Timmons, for the early part of the season because both are currently sidelined with injury.
Timmons is recuperating from a double hip operation, while Quigley is suffering from hamstring and back problems. Damien O’Connor and Paul Kingston are also out injured at the moment, but should return to the fold in the short-term.
Westmeath and Louth go head to head at Cusack Park on Sunday, and both sets of management are in a positive frame of mind.
Westmeath manager Tom Cribbin has brought a lot of new players into his panel and has been encouraged by the form they showed in challenge matches over the Christmas period.
“Yes, I’ve been encouraged by some of those involved towards the latter part of 2016,” said Cribbin.
“We had a few challenge matches and got a chance to have a look at a few new players, some of who are untried at inter-county level, so from that perspective it was good and the performances of certain individuals showed lots of potential for the future.”
Louth manager Colin Kelly intends to use the O’Byrne cup as a chance to experiment with his selections, and is looking forward to the challenge of playing three matches in eight days.
"It worked well for us last year,” said Kelly. “We got what we needed out of it in terms of looking at players and giving lads some game time, but we also built some great momentum, particularly with that win over Kildare in Hawkfield in miserable conditions. It was a great stepping stone going into the league.
"It is tough on the players and it suits counties with big, strong squads. In our case, certain players will have to play three games in a week. But it's great for getting boots on fellas in a competitive environment."
O'Byrne Cup Round 1 fixtures
Saturday January 7
Kildare v Longford, Newbridge, 2pm
Sunday January 8
Dublin v DCU, Parnell Park, 2pm
Wexford v UCD, Gorey, 2pm
Offaly v IT Carlow, Geashill (Raheen GAA), 2pm
Meath v Wicklow, Pairc Tailteann, 2pm
Laois v DIT, Crettyard, 2pm
Westmeath v Louth, Cusack Park, 2pm
Carlow v NUI Maynooth, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2pm
