Leinster SFC: Dublin comfortable winners in Portlaoise

Leinster SFC quarter-final: Dublin 0-22, Westmeath 0-11

Businesslike Dublin comfortably saw off a battling Westmeath side in tonight’s Leinster SFC quarter-final at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.

In chilly, wet November conditions – an unusual scenario for championship fare – the Dubs were their usual imperious selves, with Ciaran Kilkenny kicking five points from play, and Dean Rock reliable from placed balls.

The reigning All-Ireland champions effectively had their work done in the first half, applying relentless pressure and winning plenty of ball from ‘keeper Jason Daly’s kick-outs. They built up a 0-7 to 0-2 lead by the first water break with some swift attacks.

However, the Lake County – despite being minus the services of Ger Egan and Paddy Holloway – showed plenty of character over the course of the 70 minutes. John Heslin, Luke Loughlin and Ray Connellan were among those on target with some sublime scores in the first moiety, at the end of which Dublin led 0-15 to 0-6.

Jack Cooney’s charges kept battling after the restart, and restricted Dublin to 0-7 in the second 35-minute spell, with Heslin, Loughlin, Kieran Martin, Connellan and Jack Smith all finding their range for the Maroons.

Dublin now progress to a Leinster semi-final against either Laois or Longford, while for Westmeath, it’s the first and last championship outing of Covid-hit 2020.

Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; Michael Fitzsimons, Jonny Cooper (0-1), Eoin Murchan (0-1); James McCarthy (0-1), John Small, Robert McDaid (0-1); Brian Fenton, Tom Lahiff; Niall Scully (0-1), Ciarán Kilkenny (0-5), Seán Bugler (0-2); Paddy Small (0-2), Con O’Callaghan (0-1), Dean Rock (0-7, 6f). Subs: Brian Howard for Bugler (49), Cormac Costello for P Small (51), David Byrne for Fitzsimons (55), Aaron Byrne for Scully (60), Eric Lowndes for Murchan (inj., 66).

Westmeath: Jason Daly; Boidu Sayeh, Kevin Maguire, Jack Smith (0-1); Jamie Gonoud, Ronan Wallace, James Dolan; Ray Connellan (0-2), Sam Duncan; David Lynch, John Heslin (0-3, 2f), Killian Daly; Ronan O’Toole (0-1), Luke Loughlin (0-2), Kieran Martin (0-2, 1m). Subs: Conor Slevin for K Daly (49), Callum McCormack for Lynch (52), Lorcan Dolan for Martin (54), Anthony McGivney for Loughlin (60), Brandon Kelly for O’Toole (70).

Ref: Martin McNally (Monaghan).