Experimental Westmeath no match for slick DCU side

Around 500 spectators turned up on a cold but pleasant afternoon in the hope that the new Westmeath management team might have unearthed some new talent after an extensive trawl of the county since Hackett's appointment last September. However, on this evidence, it would appear that many of the 'old reliables' who served the maroon and white cause so well in the generally memorable decade recently ended, will be required as the year progresses.A 'banker' of a game now follows in the shield competition against Kilkenny when, in truth, very little is likely to be learned against the apathetic footballing Cats. On the positive side, it will be a further opportunity for the new regime to give some other players an opportunity to stake their claims ahead of what now looks a quite daunting Division Two programme.The students had wind advantage in the first half and were full value for their 0-8 to 0-2 lead at the interval. With less than a third of what would be perceived as their strongest team on duty, Westmeath were no match for their much sharper opponents. A lively attacking sextet, spearheaded by a particularly potent full forward line of Seanie Johnson (Cavan), Donal Shine (Roscommon) and David Kelly (Sligo), caused endless problems for a sluggish home rearguard. Ironically, at the other end, regular Westmeath full back Kieran Gavin was a tower of strength for DCU, while Tommy McDaniel was the only semi-consistent threat in an experimental Lake County attack.Hackett introduced four subs after the interval, but his opposite number, Niall Moyna had the luxury of being able to spring another established inter-county player in Dublin's Paddy Andrews to bolster his side. The students had things very much their own way and a succession of scores, many of the highest quality, pulled them 11 points ahead by the midpoint of the half (0-14 to 0-3). Westmeath's lack of collective training and match practice due to the recent inclement weather was very evident and they seldom threatened to reduce the gap. They relied on James Durkan's freetaking (which wasn't always accurate either) to keep the scoreline somewhat respectable.One positive to emerge was that sub goalkeeper, Stephen Gallagher impressed in the absence of Gary Connaughton and the understudy's safe handling between the posts meant that DCU failed to raise a green flag. However, the winners' ability to manufacture outstanding points was always to the fore and Sunday's display augurs well for DCU for the rest of this competition and later in the spring in the Sigerson Cup. On the day, the latest series of experimental rules more or less passed by unnoticed, with only the stringent application of a clear fisted pass seemingly differing from games played in 2009 and DCU were often pulled up in this regard.Fielding at most five players who would have been considered regulars under Tomás Ó Flatharta, the new-look Westmeath side faced a visiting outfit with more than that number who would be well known throughout the land. The students went into a lead they never remotely looked like relinquishing in the fourth minute when a quickly-taken free from Darach Mooney freed Donal Shine and the powerfully-built full forward pointed in style from 30 metres. The losers then failed to take advantage of a scoreable free awarded for an innocuous foul on Tommy McDaniel when James Durkan elected to take a quick kick which came to nothing. The students then doubled their advantage, Seanie Johnston picking out Paddy Byrne who pointed neatly. Willie Murtagh soon produced an eye-catching block on Johnston, but already the home side's ring-rustiness was evident for all to see. Conversely, DCU's greater preparation saw them put together many fine moves throughout the pitch. Wing back Jonathan Cooper embarked on the first of many lengthy unchallenged solo runs, but Stephen Gallagher did well to hold the Dubliner's shot from distance. Just past the quarter of an hour mark, the maroon and whites opened their account when Michael Ennis set up his Ballinagore clubmate, Tommy McDaniel who took his chance very well (moments after he had completely miscued a chance from a similar range).The two livewire corner forwards, David Kelly and Seanie Johnson tacked on a point apiece at the end of flowing moves from Niall Moyna's troops. James Durkan was wide, via the upright, from a very kickable free. In the 27th minute, Tommy McDaniel almost picked out Ronan Doolin when a goal looked a possibility and an unconverted '45' ensued for the losers. With six minutes of normal time remaining in the first moiety, Simon Shortall opened his account with a well-taken point. Some two minutes later, the home fans got their first real opportunity to applaud a moment of class from their heroes when James Durkan shipped a couple of would-be tacklers before rifling over a fine left-footed point from 25 metres. However, the students finished the half very strongly adding three unanswered points. Corner back Neil Collins got in on the scoring act with a fisted effort, soon followed by a blasted effort from Simon Shortall (who appeared to have a goal on his mind) and a pointed free, taken from the ground by Donal Shine (following another surge forward by Jonathan Cooper). The nearest Westmeath came to scoring during these closing stages of the half came when Aidan Finnan's dangerous punt goalwards was fisted out by DCU netminder Michael Boyle. At the break the students deservedly led by 0-8 to 0-2.The respective number 14s, Donal Shine and Paul Greville exchanged points from frees in the opening three minutes of the second half. DCU took more or less total control for the ensuing ten minutes, rattling off five unanswered points, many at the end of slick passing movements from a well-drilled outfit. Highly-rated Breffni man, Seanie Johnson curled over a delightful point with the outside of his right boot for the first of these. Half-time substitute, Paddy Andrews followed up with a fine score from 25 metres. Johnson soon lobbed over another point - a goal seemed a distinct possibility had the contest been closer - and Paddy Byrne and Jonathan Cooper (whose industry well entitled him to make the scoresheet) chipped in with further well-taken scores. It was now 0-14 to 0-3 in favour of the students and, even allowing for Westmeath's inevitable lack of preparation, an embarrassing result looked on the cards.A mini-revival saw James Durkan slot over three points from frees in as many minutes, all from around the 30-metre mark, albeit the second and third awards seemed soft. With exactly 20 minutes of the second moiety elapsed, wing back Dermot Sheridan became the ninth DCU man to find the target as he scored unopposed from 30 metres. Seconds later, corner back Neil Collins added his second of the afternoon. At the other end, James Durkan missed a scoreable free and substitute Paul Sharry was well off target from play. DCU substitute William Mulhall became the tenth man in yellow and blue to get in on the scoring act in the 26th minute with a lovely point from 30 metres. James Durkan spurned another kickable free before a measure of the students' dominance was demonstrated when goalkeeper Michael Boyle went on a long unchallenged solo run outfield. Paddy Andrews wrapped up the winners' impressive haul of 18 points with a straightforward point in the 32nd minute. In the dying moments, Tommy McDaniel took over the placekicking duties and he tapped over a routine free from his hands. In the very last action of a most disappointing contest, the ever-reliable Michael Ennis, who served both in defence and attack as required throughout, kicked an opportunist point with his left foot from 25 metres.At this time of the year, Páidí Ó Sé's memorable quote about the O'Byrne Cup being an opportunity to "blow out some dirty petrol" is invariably trotted out. Even allowing for all the factors which have conspired against him since his appointment, Brendan Hackett will be all-too-aware after last Sunday's debut in the Westmeath bainisteoir's bib that his panel needs a thorough service.DCU: Michael Boyle (Donegal); Philip McMahon (Dublin), Kieran Gavin (Westmeath), Neil Collins (Roscommon) (0-2); Dermot Sheridan (Cavan) (0-1), Bryan Cullen (Dublin), Jonathan Cooper (Dublin) (0-1); Darach Mooney (Monaghan), Hugh McGrillen (Kildare); Paul Flynn (Dublin), Simon Shortall (Laois) (0-2), Paddy Byrne (Wicklow) (0-2); Seanie Johnson (Cavan) (0-3), Donal Shine (Roscommon) (0-3, 0-2 from frees), David Kelly (Sligo) (0-1). Subs: Paddy Andrews (Dublin) (0-2) (for Shortall, h/t), Kevin Nolan (Dublin) (for McGrillen, h/t), William Mulhall (Offaly) (0-1) (for Kelly, 53 mins), Eoin Culligan (Dublin) (for McMahon, 58 mins), Liam O'Donovan (Dublin) (for Johnson, 63 mins).Westmeath: Stephen Gallagher; Francis Boyle, Gary Quinn, Willie Murtagh; Greg Crowley, Donal O'Donoghue, Doran Harte; Stephen Bracken, Aidan Finnan; Niall Kilcoyne, Michael Ennis (0-1), James Durkan (0-4, 0-3 from frees); Ronan Doolin, Paul Greville (0-1, from a free), Tommy McDaniel (0-2, 0-1 from a free). Subs: Paul Sharry (for Kilcoyne, h/t), John Gaffey (for Murtagh, h/t), Philip Gilsenan (for Crowley, h/t), Micheál Curley (for Boyle, h/t), Willie Coyne (for Greville, inj, 49 mins).Referee: Fergal Barry (Kildare).