1998 O'Byrne Cup explained

1998 O'Byrne Cup
Province:	Leinster
Year:	1998
Matches:	12
Date:	4 January — 22 March
Num Teams:	12
Trophy:	O'Byrne Cup
Winners:	Offaly
Manager:	Tommy Lyons
Captain:	Finbarr Cullen
Runnersup:	Louth
Runnerupmanager:	Paddy Clarke
Ordinal:	6
Previous:	1997
Next:	1999

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"^[1]

Offaly were the winners, scoring two late goals to defeat Louth in the final at Drogheda Park.^[2]

Notes and References

1. News: Rule changes to be tested in cup games. .
2. Web site: Offaly strike late to retain O'Byrne Cup. Independent.ie. 23 March 1998 .