Improving Westmeath show up well against skeleton Dublin side

Westmeath's senior footballers wrapped up their challenge game rota in preparation for the Leinster quarter-final outing against Wicklow, with a very encouraging outing against a vastly-understrength Dublin side in glorious sunshine at the DCU grounds last Saturday afternoon.Given the Lake County's paucity of scores in the recent depressing National Football League campaign under the management of Brendan Hackett, a fine haul of 1-19 (one point of which was disputed in the absence of formal umpires) is the most encouraging statistic to emerge. Returning stars, Denis Glennon and Des Dolan accounted for 11 points between them, with Glennon's workrate impressive throughout and Dolan still showing his undoubted class sporadically. Worryingly, five goals is far too many green flags and three of them can certainly be classed as mid-summer gifts. And there is no better team in the land to accept defensive charity than Dublin, the bulk of whose panel were on duty in Mayo in another challenge match taking place at the same time, in the company of team manager Pat Gilroy.The metropolitans got off to a lightning start and Alan Brogan had 1-1 to his name by the third minute, the goal coming after a misjudgement by John Gaffey with only 50 seconds on the clock and the point a fisted effort in their next attack. Brogan was then withdrawn, but his replacement Brendan McManamon was also quite a handful on the day, as were a range of relatively-unknown players in sky blue and navy. A well-taken goal by Dean Rock and another within a minute from the aforementioned McManamon (availing of a howler from Donal O'Donoghue) had Dublin ahead by 3-4 to 0-3 by the midpoint of the half (the losers' scores having come from a Denis Glennon free and fine scores from play by Francis Boyle and Conor Lynam, both of whom caught the eye throughout in defence and attack respectively).Naturally, memories of absolute massacres in Parnell Park and Croke Park last year came flooding back. Two successful Denis Glennon frees followed, before Philip Gilsenan marked his introduction, shortly after performing a similar role for the hurlers in Navan, with a fine point. Late scores from Dolan (a lovely effort) and Glennon (a free) had the half-time score reading a little more respectably: Dublin 3-6 Westmeath 0-8.Some six minutes after the re-start, the winners got their fourth goal when Daniel Watson tapped in Bryan Cullen's cross, which sub goalkeeper Stephen Gallagher will be unhappy not to have cut out. However, Westmeath responded with an unanswered 1-2, including a terrific goal from Conor Lynam, after fine interplay with his St. Loman's, Mullingar team-mate Paul Sharry. The men in maroon and white were now giving as good as they were getting and a particularly good point from Ger Egan had his side trailing by a mere four points by the 19th minute of the second moiety. Slack Westmeath defending allowed in the very lively Paddy Andrews for Dublin's fifth goal with 12 minutes of normal time remaining, but Michael Ennis responded with a typically-gutsy point. Ian Coffey showed his value as left-footed freetaker with a fine free and a superb '45' late in the game and Des Dolan fittingly closed the match scoring with a classy point.All present on the day except Gary Connaughton, Fergal Wilson (both of whom would be expected to start against Wicklow if fully fit), Gary Flanagan, Conor Jordan and Paul Greville (who arrived after his hurling heroics against Down) were tried on the day, in intense heat. The signs are certainly more encouraging than in the spring but, Micko's Wicklow are still entitled to the favourites' tag on Sunday week in O'Connor Park. Final score: Dublin 5-13, Westmeath 1-19.Dublin: David Nestor; Derek Murray, Kevin Nolan, James Brogan; Paul Brogan, Brian Sexton, Shay Cloherty; Colm Murphy, Darren Magee; Bryan Cullen, Dean Rock (1-5, 0-3 from frees), Kevin Bonner; Alan Brogan (1-1), Paddy Andrews (1-4), Dean Kelly (0-1). Subs used: Brendan McManamon (1-1), Liam Óg Ó hÉineacháin (0-1), Daniel Watson (1-0), Darren Daly, Sean Murray.Westmeath: Darren Quinn; Francis Boyle (0-1), Donal O'Donoghue, John Gaffey; Daniel McDermott, Tommy Warburton, Mark Dalton; David Duffy, Paul Bannon; James Durkan, Paul Sharry, John Smyth; Denis Glennon (0-7, 0-6 from frees), Conor Lynam (1-2), Des Dolan (0-4). Subs used: Philip Gilsenan (0-1), Damien Healy, Stephen Gallagher, Doran Harte, Ger Egan (0-1), Kieran Martin, Michael Ennis (0-1), Kevin Maguire, Ronan Doyle, Lorcan Smyth, Ian Coffey (0-2, 0-1 from a '45', 0-1 from a free), Gary Glennon.Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).by Gerry Buckley