2010 O'Byrne Cup

Rule changes

This competition was the first Leinster senior football competition to include the 2010 modifications to the rules of the game. In matches in this competition, players could only use a fist pass rather than having the option of using an open-handed hand pass, which was the case previously. An experimental 'mark' rule was also introduced, where a played catching a kick-out from the goalkeeper between the 45-metre lines was awarded a free kick. There were also changes in the location where penalties and kickouts were taken, and the definition of what constituted a 'bounce' during solo runs.

O'Byrne Cup

16/17 January 2010 24 January 2010 31 January 2010 21 February 2010 | team-width=100px

| RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1=Laois | RD1-score1=2-09 | RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2=D.I.T. | RD1-score2=1-09

| RD1-seed3= | RD1-team3=Kildare | RD1-score3=0-16 | RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4=U.C.D. | RD1-score4=1-11

| RD1-seed5= | RD1-team5=Carlow | RD1-score5=0-08 | RD1-seed6= | RD1-team6=A.I.T | RD1-score6=0-12

| RD1-seed7= | RD1-team7=Wicklow | RD1-score7=0-11 | RD1-seed8= | RD1-team8=Louth | RD1-score8=2-18

| RD1-seed09= | RD1-team09=Dublin | RD1-score09=2-10 | RD1-seed10= | RD1-team10=Wexford | RD1-score10=0-08

| RD1-seed11= | RD1-team11=Longford | RD1-score11=0-13 | RD1-seed12= | RD1-team12=Meath | RD1-score12=2-13

| RD1-seed13= | RD1-team13=Kilkenny | RD1-score13=0-06 | RD1-seed14= | RD1-team14=Offaly | RD1-score14=1-23

| RD1-seed15= | RD1-team15=Westmeath | RD1-score15=0-08 | RD1-seed16= | RD1-team16=D.C.U. | RD1-score16=0-18

| RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1=Laois | RD2-score1=0-08 | RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2=Kildare | RD2-score2=0-11

| RD2-seed3= | RD2-team3=A.I.T. | RD2-score3=1-07 | RD2-seed4= | RD2-team4=Louth | RD2-score4=0-18

| RD2-seed5= | RD2-team5=Dublin | RD2-score5=1-09 | RD2-seed6= | RD2-team6=Meath | RD2-score6=1-10

| RD2-seed7= | RD2-team7=Offaly | RD2-score7=0-08 | RD2-seed8= | RD2-team8=D.C.U. | RD2-score8=0-16

| RD3-seed1= | RD3-team1=Kildare | RD3-score1=0-14 | RD3-seed2= | RD3-team2=Louth | RD3-score2=1-16

| RD3-seed3= | RD3-team3=Meath | RD3-score3=0-13 | RD3-team4=DCU | RD3-score4=0-16

| RD4-seed1= | RD4-team1=Louth | RD4-score1=0-17 | RD4-team2=DCU | RD4-score2=1-15

First round

The eight winning teams from the first round of the O'Byrne Cup went on to qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament. The losers of the first round went on to the O'Byrne Shield quarter finals.

Quarter-finals

The quarter finals were played on the weekend of 24 January 2010. One match (Dublin vs Meath) ended in a draw, and a replay was held on 27 January. Another match (Laois vs Kildare) was a source of controversy, when a brawl which occurred during the match led to a total of seven players being sent off. A subsequent investigation into the incident led to 4 Laois players and 2 Kildare players receiving suspensions from the game for between four and eight weeks. The affected players would be ineligible to play in the rest of the O'Byrne Cup, as well as any National Football League matches scheduled to be played during the period of suspension.

Semi-finals

Final

|}

O'Byrne Shield

The O'Byrne Shield consisted of the 8 losing teams from the first round of the O'Byrne Cup. 22/24 January 2010 31 January 2010 28 February 2010 | team-width=100px

| RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1=D.I.T. | RD1-score1=0-14 | RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2=U.C.D. | RD1-score2=2-07

| RD1-seed3= | RD1-team3=Carlow | RD1-score3=2-13 | RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4=Wicklow | RD1-score4=2-10

| RD1-seed5= | RD1-team5=Wexford | RD1-score5=1-10 | RD1-seed6= | RD1-team6=Longford | RD1-score6=0-12

| RD1-seed7= | RD1-team7=Kilkenny | RD1-score7=0-06 | RD1-seed8= | RD1-team8=Westmeath | RD1-score8=2-17

| RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1=D.I.T. | RD2-score1=0-10 | RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2=Carlow | RD2-score2=3-07

| RD2-seed3= | RD2-team3=Wexford | RD2-score3=1-11 | RD2-seed4= | RD2-team4=Westmeath | RD2-score4=0-08

| RD3-seed1= | RD3-team1=Carlow | RD3-score1=1-15 | RD3-seed2= | RD3-team2=Wexford | RD3-score2=2-08

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

References

References

1. Hoganstand.com. (2010-01-07). "O'Byrne Cup Games Off In Leinster". [[Hoganstand]].
2. (2009-12-22). "Full list of changes to GAA rules for the National League 2010". Sportsnewsireland.com.
3. (2010-01-25). "Kildare and Laois engage in battle royale". [[RTÉ Sport]].
4. (2010-01-29). "Leinster chiefs show no mercy". [[Irish Independent]].
5. (2010-01-29). "Six set for suspension...". [[Irish Independent]].
6. (22 February 2010). "DCU enjoy Sigerson boost as Roche steps up to mark". [[Irish Independent]].