2023 O'Byrne Cup

The 2023 O'Byrne Cup was a Gaelic football tournament played by eleven county teams of Leinster GAA in January 2023; Kilkenny did not take part.^[1] Dublin were the holders.^[2]

2023 O'Byrne Cup

Tournament details
Province	Leinster
Year	2023
Trophy	O'Byrne Cup
Date	4–21 January 2023
Teams	11
Defending champions	Dublin
Winners
Champions	Longford (4th win)
Manager	Paddy Christie
Captain	Barry O'Farrell
Runners-up
Runners-up	Louth
Manager	Mickey Harte
Captain	Sam Mulroy
Other
Matches played	14
← 2022 2024 →

The tournament was won by Longford, with Dessie Reynolds scoring 3-3 in the final against Louth.^[3][4] The competition was marred by a series of cancelled games, as four teams gave walkovers in the later rounds, saying that they did not have enough players available, with the Sigerson Cup and other competitions going on.^[5][6] Leinster GAA stated that "the integrity of the competition has now been diminished. In future, counties will have to give serious consideration to their fixture schedule before committing to participating."^[7]

Competition format

The eleven teams are drawn to play in two groups of four teams and one group of three teams.

Each team plays the other teams in their group once. Two points are awarded for a win and one for a draw.

The three group winners advance to the knockout stage, with one of the winners of a four-team group playing the winners of the three-team group in the semi-final, and the other four-team group winners advancing directly to the final.^[8]

Group stage

Games took place 4–11 January 2023.

Group A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Louth[a]	3	2	0	1	25	22	+3	4[b]	Advance to semi-final
2	Westmeath[c]	3	2	0	1	28	17	+11	4[b]
3	Kildare[c]	3	1	0	2	34	25	+9	2[d]
4	Wexford[a]	3	1	0	2	17	40	−23	2[d]

Updated to match(es) played on 7 January 2023. Source: Leinster GAA
Notes:

1. Wexford received a walkover from Louth.^[9]
2. Louth are ranked ahead of Westmeath as they won the head-to-head game between the teams
3. Westmeath received a walkover from Kildare.^[10]
4. Kildare are ranked ahead of Wexford as they won the head-to-head game between the teams

Group B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Longford	3	2	1	0	52	27	+25	5	Advance to final
2	Meath	3	1	2	0	42	38	+4	4
3	Carlow[a]	3	1	0	2	16	31	−15	2
4	Laois[a]	3	0	1	2	29	43	−14	1

Updated to match(es) played on 11 January 2023. Source: Leinster GAA
Notes:

1. Carlow received a walkover from Laois.^[11]

Group C

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Offaly	2	2	0	0	23	15	+8	4	Advance to semi-final
2	Dublin	2	1	0	1	29	20	+9	2
3	Wicklow	2	0	0	2	16	33	−17	0

Updated to match(es) played on 11 January 2023. Source: Leinster GAA

Knockout stage

Louth	w/o – scr.	Offaly

Louth v Offaly

15 January 2023 (2023-01-15) 14:00 IWT (UTC±0) Semi-Final

Report

Páirc Naomh Bríd, Dowdallshill, Dundalk Referee: Keith O'Brien

Longford	3-13 (22) – (12) 0-12	Louth
(HT: 1-07 – 0-07)

Longford v Louth

TG4

21 January 2023 (2023-01-21) 14:00 IWT (UTC±0) Final

Report

Pearse Park, Longford Referee: Keith O’Brien (Westmeath)

References

1. Reporter, Leader. "Longford away to Laois in the opening round of the 2023 O'Byrne Cup". www.longfordleader.ie.
2. McMahon, James (November 16, 2022). "Gannon confirms Pat Gilroy will be joining Dubs set-up" – via www.rte.ie.
3. Bannon, Dan (January 21, 2023). "Reynolds on fire as Longford claim O'Byrne Cup" – via www.rte.ie. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
4. "Longford - O'Byrne Cup History". Longford Gaelic Stats.
5. "Outgoing Leinster GAA chairman hopes O'Byrne Cup walkovers don't 'adversely affect' future broadcast deals". independent.
6. McGuire, Ken (13 January 2023). ""The integrity of the competition has now been diminished" as O'Byrne Cup semi-final is scrapped". Scoreline.ie.
7. "O'Byrne Cup Statement". Leinster GAA. January 13, 2023.
8. "2023 O'Byrne Cup Fixtures – Longford GAA".
9. "'Disrespectful' attitude of Louth disappoints John Hegarty as footballers get walkover". independent.
10. "Westmeath's clash with Kildare called off". Westmeath Examiner.
11. "Carlow pull out of Laois game as Offaly express anger". January 12, 2023 – via www.rte.ie. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

External links

• Official site