Improved Westmeath fall to second league defeat

Dublin 1-22 Westmeath 0-18

Despite producing a more committed and skilful display than had been the case in Corrigan Park a week earlier, Westmeath remain pointless after two games in Division 1B of the National Hurling League after last Sunday’s seven-point loss to a wasteful Dublin outfit in very cold conditions at TEG Cusack Park.

In truth, Niall Ó Ceallacháin’s troops always looked to have a slight edge on their hosts, who are now firmly ensconced in a relegation quagmire. Indeed, the re-fixed clash with Laois at the same venue next Sunday now has a categoric ‘must-win’ tag to it. In that regard, late cameos from Niall O’Brien, Davy Glennon and David O’Reilly made for welcome viewing for the small Lake County following in attendance who were outnumbered by their sky blue and navy-clad counterparts.

Remarkably, Dublin’s John Hetherton was booked after 30 seconds following a challenge on Westmeath goalie Jack Gillen. When Conor Donohoe followed him into the referee’s notebook two minutes later, it looked ominous for the winners, but – Conal O’Riain’s controversial red card in the 52nd minute apart – they managed to avoid the referee’s pen and paper thereafter, whereas Westmeath picked up five yellow cards, the first of them to Rory Keyes for entering the field of play without permission after an early injury to the unfortunate Robbie Greville.

Aided by a slight wind, Westmeath took the lead via Darragh McCormack in the second minute. However, the very promising Castlepollard attacker was generally subdued thereafter. Donohoe equalised shortly after being cautioned before David Williams (who went on to have a fine game) and Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing (a free) traded points. Hetherton pointed in style prior to O’Riain netting in the tenth minute when teed up by Donohoe, leaving the visitors ahead by 1-3 to 0-2.

Point exchanges ensued between Mark Cunningham and Ó Dúlaing, the latter (a free) and Eamon Cunneen (a sublime sideline cut), and Fergal Whitely and Cunneen (a great score from play). Hetherton’s goal attempt was saved by Gillen, as the men in maroon and white continued to hurl with admirable spirit, scoring four more points without reply from the sticks of Williams (three – a ‘65’, open play, and a free) and Peter Clarke, thereby tieing up the scoring (1-6 to 0-9) with 21 minutes elapsed.

Dublin outscored Seoirse Bulfin’s charges by six points (two apiece from Darragh Power and Ó Dúlaing – including a free – and one each from Dara Purcell and O’Riain) to three (all from Williams, the third a fabulous score from play) during the remainder of the first moiety, leaving them ahead by 1-12 to 0-12 at the break.

The third quarter was a poor spectacle with only four points scored in total – three to the metropolitans from the sticks of Ó Dúlaing (two frees) and Whitely (one from play), and one to Westmeath from Cunneen. Gillen came forward in the 42nd minute to try and blast a goal from a close-range free, but his shot was saved. The red-carding of O’Riain for an off the ball incident in the 52nd minute gave home fans a little hope of producing a shock, but Dublin still led at that juncture by 1-15 to 0-13.

Williams continued to excel in the Lake County attack and his splendid quickfire brace had the deficit down to just a goal. Ó Dulaing and Williams swapped points from frees – many observers felt Williams’ effort had tailed wide – but Dublin tagged on an important hat-trick without replay via debutant Brendan Kenny, Ó Dulaing (a free), and David Purcell. Gary Greville was denied what would have been a spectacular goal by Eddie Gibbons on the 70-minute mark at the expense of a point. Sub O’Reilly rounded off the losers’ tally in added-time before Dublin wrapped up their win with three late unanswered points from David Purcell, Daire Gray, and Whitely.

Scorers – Dublin: D Ó Dúlaing 0-9 (7f), C O’Riain 1-1, F Whitely 0-3, D Power, David Purcell 0-2 each, D Gray, C Donohoe, Dara Purcell, J Hetherton, B Kenny 0-1 each.

Westmeath: D Williams 0-10 (4f, 1‘65’), E Cunneen 0-3 (1s/l), D McCormack, M Cunningham, P Clarke, D O’Reilly, G Greville 0-1 each.

Dublin: Eddie Gibbons; John Bellew, David Lucey, Paddy Smyth; Kevin Burke, Chris Crummey, Daire Gray; Conor Burke, Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing; Conor Donohoe, Conal O’Riain, Darragh Power; Dara Purcell, John Hetherton, Fergal Whitely. Subs used: David Purcell for Hetherton (30), Brian Hayes for Power (46), Brendan Kenny for Dara Purcell (59), Paddy Dunnleavy for Crummey (inj., 60), Ciarán Foley for Kenny (blood, 67).

Westmeath: Jack Gillen; Conor Gaffney, Tommy Doyle, Gary Greville; Johnny Bermingham, Aaron Craig, Eoin Keyes; Peter Clarke, Shane Williams; Robbie Greville, Darragh McCormack, Mark Cunningham; Eamon Cunneen, Niall Mitchell, David Williams. Subs used: Rory Keyes for R Greville (inj., 6), David O’Reilly for Mitchell (46), Joey Boyle for S Williams (48), Davy Glennon for R Keyes (61), Niall O’Brien for Cunneen (63), Adam Ennis for Doyle (blood, 67).

Ref: Thomas Walsh (Waterford).