Meath's Peadar Byrne played his first game last night after serving a nine-month suspension.

And the industrious No.10 showed no signs of ring-rustiness as he floated over four points from play, helping his club Ballinlough to a 2-11 to 0-11 Meath ACFL Division Two victory away to Syddan.

Byrne's tenacity and energy would certainly have seen him feature in Seamus McEnaney's plans this year and it is timely that his return comes just days before the Royal County's crunch qualifier clash with Louth at Breffni Park.

With Brian Farrell and Stephen Bray ruled out of Saturday's match, Banty has admitted that Byrne is in line for an immediate return to county action: "It's good to have Peadar back. He hasn't had an opportunity to play under me and he will be in contention all right."

The lengthy ban arose from an incident that took place after last year's junior hurling championship final. Twenty-eight-year-old Byrne plays his club hurling with Kilskyre. Tweet

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