Irish Daily Mirror

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- BY PAT NOLAN

BORD NA MONA O’BYRNE CUP THE semi-final line-ups for the o’byrne Cup will become apparent tomorrow, with requiring a 17-point win over to continue their defence of the trophy.

A third-string Dublin side won the competitio­n last year which didn’t do much to boost the morale of the rest of Leinster.

A strong second half showing from offaly on Wednesday night against another shadow Dublin selection should have been enough to put them to the sword but stephen Wallace’s side squandered late chances to seal a last four spot off their own steam.

still, given that they beat Wexford by 16 points last weekend, Dublin will have to better that to top the table ahead of them.

“We pick our team and the best squad that we have. It’s important to go down and perform, it’s important to go down and get a win,” said stand-in Dublin boss Paul Clarke (above) .

“You want the players to feel they’ve contribute­d something over the last few weeks.”

Given that 11 counties, and no colleges, are taking part this year, it wasn’t possible to create four groups of three and

and play the second leg of their tie in stradbally tomorrow.

Westmeath won by a point last weekend and the tie will be decided on aggregate, with extratime and a free-taking competitio­n if necessary to determine the winner.

can afford a three-point defeat at home to and still make the semi-final, though Cian o’neill’s side require an eight-point victory to be sure of reaching the last four.

After beating Carlow in midweek, if avoid defeat against

in Navan they will progress to the semifinal.

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