No need for Con O’Callaghan as Laois star destroys Maynooth

The south Dublin college are out to regain their title.

Maynooth posed few problems for a rampant UCD in Kildare on Tuesday afternoon. Last year's beaten finalists could afford to hold 2017 Young Footballer of the Year Con O'Callaghan in reserve - and still had 12 points to spare after 60 minutes of football. Jack McCaffrey was also watching on for the South Dublin side, but he is expected to miss the whole campaign due to his knee injury sustained in the All-Ireland final. John Divilly's side were never troubled by Johnny Doyle's charges, leading by 1-8 to 0-1 at the half-time interval, and 2-14 to 1-6 at the end. UCD have a strong outfit - which included four Tipperary seniors in Jimmy Feehan, Liam Casey, Charlie Manton and Colm O'Shaughnessy. Former Mayo under-21 captain Stephen Coen mans the centre of the defence, with Dublin senior Eoin Murchan flanking him. Kerry duo Jack Barry and Barry O'Sullivan form a formidable midfield partnership while the tricky Monaghan forward Conor McCarthy pulls the string from the number 11 position. It really is a who's who of young inter-county stars, and the star turn on the day was their Laois corner forward Eoin Lowry. Johnny Doyle's Maynooth, which included Kildare trio of Paddy Brophy, Daniel Flynn and Paul Cribben, had no answer. The powerful, industrious Killeshin club man was three years a county under-21 for the O'Moore county, captaining the side in 2016. Lowry is a senior member of this UCD outfit, having been the starting corner forward in their last Sigerson winning campaign in 2016. He showed his experience today, setting the tone with an early goal and following it up with six more points. https://twitter.com/MaynoothUniGAA/status/955822509013786625