# 1998 O'Byrne Cup

The 1998 O'Byrne Cup was a Gaelic football competition played by the county teams of Leinster GAA.
The tournament was a straight knockout, with 12 teams. New rules were tested:
* players were cautioned for any pushing, pulling or holding of an opponent
* two referees (in some games)
* five substitutes
* picking the ball off the ground permitted, so long as the player's feet are on the ground
* "mark" or free kick for an overhead catch from a kick-out
* solo run limited to one hop or one "solo"
Offaly were the winners, scoring two late goals to defeat Louth in the final at Gaelic Grounds in Drogheda.

## Results

| First round 4/10/11 January 1998 | First round 4/10/11 January 1998 | First round 4/10/11 January 1998 | Quarter-finals 18/25 January 1998 | Quarter-finals 18/25 January 1998 | Quarter-finals 18/25 January 1998 | Semi-finals 31 Jan / 8 Feb 1998 | Semi-finals 31 Jan / 8 Feb 1998 | Semi-finals 31 Jan / 8 Feb 1998 | Final 22 March 1998 | Final 22 March 1998 | Final 22 March 1998 |
| Wicklow (replayed) | Wicklow (replayed) | 0-9 3-4 | | | | | | | | | |
| Meath | Meath | 0-9 0-12 | Carlow | Carlow | 1-7 | | | | | | |
| | | | Wicklow | Wicklow | 2-11 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Wicklow | Wicklow | 1-5 | | | |
| Westmeath | Westmeath | 1-21 | | | | Offaly | Offaly | 0-13 | | | |
| Kilkenny | Kilkenny | 0-4 | Offaly | Offaly | 0-9 | | | | | | |
| | | | Westmeath | Westmeath | 0-6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Offaly | Offaly | 4-7 |
| Kildare | Kildare | 1-8 | | | | | | | Louth | Louth | 2-7 |
| Louth | Louth | 1-11 | Wexford | Wexford | 0-11 | | | | | | |
| | | | Louth | Louth | 2-6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Louth (AET) | Louth (AET) | 0-17 | | | |
| Dublin | Dublin | 0-11 | | | | Dublin | Dublin | 0-14 | | | |
| Longford | Longford | 0-6 | Laois | Laois | 0-6 | | | | | | |
| | | | Dublin | Dublin | 1-17 | | | | | | |

### Final

| GK | 1 | Ken Furlong (Tullamore) |
| RCB | 2 | Cathal Daly (Tullamore) |
| FB | 3 | Barry Malone (Rhode) |
| LCB | 4 | David Foley (Ballyfore) |
| RHB | 5 | John Kenny (Daingean) |
| CHB | 6 | Paul Mulvihill (Killeigh/Raheen) |
| LHB | 7 | James Brady (Gracefield) |
| MF | 8 | Ciarán McManus (Tubber) |
| MF | 9 | James Grennan (Ferbane) |
| RHF | 10 | Colm Quinn (Ballycumber) |
| CHF | 11 | Mark Daly (Clara) |
| LHF | 12 | Ronan Mooney (Shamrocks) |
| RCF | 13 | Vinny Claffey (Doon) |
| FF | 14 | Barry Mooney (Shamrocks) |
| LCF | 15 | Peter Brady (Edenderry) (c) |
| Substitutes: ||
| | 16 | Ken Kellaghan (Rhode) for M. Daly |
| | 17 | Roy Malone (Rhode) for B. Mooney |
| GK | 1 | Niall O'Donnell (Clan na Gael) |
| RCB | 2 | Breen Phillips (Newtown Blues) |
| FB | 3 | Gareth O'Neill (Simonstown Gaels, Meath) (c) |
| LCB | 4 | Nicky Malone (Lann Léire) |
| RHB | 5 | Declan O'Sullivan (St Joseph's) |
| CHB | 6 | Ciarán Nash (Roche Emmets) |
| LHB | 7 | Aaron Hoey (St Bride's) |
| MF | 8 | Ken Reilly (Stabannon Parnells) |
| MF | 9 | Gerry Curran (Clan na Gael) |
| RHF | 10 | Christy Grimes (Mattock Rangers) |
| CHF | 11 | Stephen Melia (St Joseph's) |
| LHF | 12 | Martin Farrelly (Lann Léire) |
| RCF | 13 | Alan Doherty (St Mary's) |
| FF | 14 | Ollie McDonnell (St Joseph's) |
| LCF | 15 | Pat Butterly (Stabannon Parnells) |
| Substitutes: ||
| | 16 | Cathal O'Hanlon (Clan na Gael) for McDonnell |
| | 17 | John Moroney (Oliver Plunketts) for Butterly |
| | 18 | Mark Stanfield (O'Connells) for Farrelly |
| | 19 | Jeffrey Finnegan (Oliver Plunketts) for Hoey |
| | 20 | Martin Harvey (Dundalk Gaels) for Curran |