PREVIEW: Dublin v Longford- 2024 Dioralyte O’Byrne Cup Final

By Conor Martin

Dublin’s Senior Footballers are looking to end pre-season on a high, when they take on defending champions Longford at Laois Hire O’Moore Park in the Dioralyte O’Byrne Cup Final this Saturday (3pm). 

The competition has given Dublin manager Dessie Farrell the chance to use a wide range of personnel, as we prepare for the upcoming Allianz Football League Division 1 season. 

We started the competition at the quarter-final stage with a one-point win over Offaly, where Brian O’Leary was key to Dublin progressing as he scored four points.

We booked our place in this weekend’s final with a win over Wexford in our semi-final clash.

Seán Lowry bagged an impressive hat-trick, whilst Luke Breathnach and Niall Scully also found the net. 

Breathnach would also kick four points, while Dublin keeper David O’Hanlon, Killian McGinnis and O’Leary had no issue sending the ball over the bar as we recorded a solid 5-17 to 1-11 win. 

Reigning champions Longford have shown they are able to dig deep and come out on top so far in this competition and will be well up for going head-to-head with Dublin. 

They edged out Westmeath 0-9 to 0-7 in their low-scoring quarter-final, with Darren Gallagher demonstrating his ability to kick scores from the dead ball and open play as the O'Farrell County advanced.

Their place in the final was rubber-stamped with a hard-fought 2-14 to 1-14 semi-final over Meath.

Longford had Dylan Farrell and Bryn Peters to thank when the duo pointed in injury-time to kill off a stubborn Meath side that pushed the eventual victors all the way.

Longford have four O’Byrne Cup titles to their name and Dublin will be doing everything they can to stop Paddy Christie’s men from retaining the cup, as we look for our first O’Byrne Cup win since 2022.