Wonderful Westmeath are Leinster champions after finding extra gear

Westmeath 2-28 Dublin 0-26 (AET)

Westmeath have been crowned Leinster senior football champions for only the second ever time after a thrilling victory over Dublin at Croke Park today (Sunday).

Amid delirious scenes afterwards, Westmeath captain Ronan Wallace lifted the Delaney Cup, following in the footsteps of David O'Shaughnessy, the victorious skipper with the history makers of 2004.

A huge number of Westmeath supporters made the pilgrimage to Croker for the final, far outnumbering the Dublin fans in a crowd of 36,556 and the atmosphere was often electric.

It's a remarkable triumph for all sorts of reasons with Westmeath without their attacking talisman Luke Loughlin since the quarter-final victory over Meath. Yet as has been the case throughout this Leinster campaign, various players have stepped forward to play heroic roles. Westmeath showed unquenchable spirit and plenty of football skill when the game was in the melting pot to claim a richly deserved victory.

It was Dublin's first Leinster senior football final defeat since 2001 and only their second loss of any kind in the provincial championship since 2010. Remarkably, this final also saw a team which played in Division 3 this year crowned provincial champions.

Westmeath had one hand on the Delaney Cup when leading by four points (0-21 to 0-17) with about 13 minutes to go in normal time. But with a couple of great Westmeath chances spurned, Dublin managed to rally and the sides finished level on a scoreline of 0-22 each.

Indeed, Westmeath needed a late equaliser from Caulry's Senan Baker to force extra-time. Baker made a huge impact off the bench, scoring four points from play in the second half including that late equaliser when he proved the coolest man in Croke Park.

A nod from Lady Luck is generally needed to win any major final - especially for a team not used to the winning enclosure - and Westmeath's came in extra-time when Brían Cooney's point attempt deceived Dublin keeper Evan Comerford and ended up in the net. It was the first Westmeath goal in a Leinster senior final since 1931. Crucially, it gave Westmeath a lead of 1-26 to 0-22 and, in truth, there looked like being only one winner from then on.

Mark McHugh's charges had already made a much better start to extra-time. Dublin's only scores came in the second period but despite the efforts of Brian Howard among others, they were unable to pull off a late escape act.

The return of John Heslin to the Westmeath panel was a huge talking point during the build-up and he showed that class is permanent with a left-footed two-pointer which was like a dagger to Dublin hearts in extra-time.

With the result already a formality, a late point attempt by substitute Adam Treanor came off the upright, paving the way for Jack Duncan to fire in a goal which embellished the final scoreline.

Westmeath started the game brightly with Tubberclair’s Matthew Whittaker opening the scoring inside the first minute. Points from Brandon Kelly, Ronan Wallace and the industrious Kevin O'Sullivan gave the underdogs a 0-4 to 0-2 lead.

But with Niall Scully and Ciarán Kilkenny becoming more influential, Dublin then reeled off six on the trot to lead 0-8 to 0-4.

An inspiring two-pointer by Shane Allen gave Westmeath a badly needed lift. Westmeath had the best goal chance of the first half but Shane Corcoran saw his effort saved by Dublin netminder Comerford. The Dubs still led 0-11 to 0-9 at half-time.

Both sides suffered injury blows in the first half, with Dublin midfielder Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne and Westmeath defender Danny Scahill both forced off.

The absence of Ó Cofaigh Byrne was keenly felt by Dublin, with Ray Connellan becoming more prominent and the Athlone man gave every ounce of effort until he had to be replaced towards the end. The first Westmeath man to play in three Leinster finals in three different years, Connellan was chosen for the official man of the match award afterwards.

Westmeath now enter the All-Ireland series as Leinster champions as they prepare to face Cavan at TEG Cusack Park at the end of the month. No doubt, that will be a very special occasion in Mullingar - but there's a fair bit of celebrating to be done before then!

Scorers - Westmeath: J Duncan 1-1; S Baker, M Whittaker (1tp) and B Kelly 0-4 each; B Cooney 1-0; R Wallace and J Heslin (1tp) 0-3 each; S Allen (tp), K O'Sullivan and S McCartan 0-2 each; S Corcoran, C Dillon and R Forde 0-1 each. Dublin: C Costello 0-8 (1tpf, 4f); C Kilkenny 0-3; N Scully, S Bugler, D Byrne, G McEneaney, P Small and Guiden (tp) 0-2 each; B Howard, L Breathnach and E Kennedy 0-1 each.

Westmeath - Jason Daly; Danny Scahill; Charlie Drumm; Tadhg Baker; Ronan Wallace (captain), Shane Allen, Matthew Whittaker; Brían Cooney, Ray Connellan; Kevin O'Sullivan, Sam McCartan, Conor Dillon; Shane Corcoran, Jack Duncan, Brandon Kelly. Subs: Adam Treanor for Scahill (injured, 18 mins); Robbie Forde for Duncan (h-t); Senan Baker for Corcoran (42); Shane Ormsby for Whittaker (59); John Heslin for Dillon (61); Jack Duncan for Allen, Shane Corcoran for Kelly (both start of e-t); Eoghan McCabe for Connellan (83); Ian Martin for T Baker (inj., 84); Tom Molloy for Cooney (86). Rest of panel: Jack Connaughton, Danny McCartan, Devin Hill, Stephen McGonagle, Harry Niall, James Mitchell, Darragh O'Keeffe, Dillon Matthews, Eoghan Hogan, Ciaran Daly, Luke Loughlin, Jonathan Lynam, Conor McCormack, Boidu Sayeh.

Dublin - Evan Comerford; Theo Clancy, Nathan Doran, David Byrne; Seán MacMahon, Charlie McMorrow, Eoin Kennedy; Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Brian Howard; Seán Bugler, Niall Scully (captain), Ciarán Kilkenny; Paddy Small, Killian McGinnis, Cormac Costello. Subs: Luke Breathnach for Ó Cofaigh Byrne (injured, 18 mins); Liam Smith for Clancy (59); Sean Guiden for Breathnach (61); Greg McEneaney for Kennedy (64); Cian Murphy for McMorrow (75); Cian O'Connor for Scully (78); Ethan Dunne for McMahon (85).

Referee - David Coldrick (Meath).