Westmeath get campaign up and running in fine fashion

Westmeath 3-11, Dublin 0-6

Westmeath comfortably dispatched Dublin in a one-sided Ted Webb Cup group game at Garrycastle on Saturday May 17.

On what was a very warm morning, the scheduling of the game appeared to have been muddled. Both teams were ready, just about, for the scheduled 11am throw-in, but there was no referee for the fixture: after contact was made, the game eventually got underway shortly before midday.

Westmeath had already suffered defeat to Cork, while Dublin had lost both of their opening games to Cork and Galway. With both sides seeking their first win of the competition, this fixture took on added importance.

Westmeath started the brighter, with midfielder Tom Weir opening the scoring after taking a pass off the shoulder before sending the ball over the bar.

Zac Bates added another point following a neat set-up by Fionn Brennan.

The home side soon pieced together a fine, defence-splitting move involving Weir, Tristan Boyce-Jordan, and Aaron Connaire, with Weir once again applying the finish to raise another white flag.

Darragh Murray of Moate All Whites then burst forward from wing-back to notch a fine score. Connaire was fouled shortly after and converted the resulting free himself. It was all Westmeath at this point, with Dublin offering little by way of response.

Ross O’Brien, operating at wing-back for Dublin, registered their first attempt in the 20th minute, but it went wide. Hugo Smith then had a goal-bound shot blocked, which was as close as the visitors came to troubling the scoreboard in the first half.

The game’s opening goal came courtesy of Connaire, who finished smartly after receiving a pinpoint kick pass from Bates.

Mark Monaghan followed up with a well-struck free to stretch Westmeath’s lead further.

Connaire added another point, this time after a midfield catch by Brennan, and Murray completed the first-half scoring with his second from play after another surge from deep. Dublin, to the surprise of many in attendance, failed to score in the opening period. They looked disjointed and lacking in cohesion, like a side hastily assembled for the occasion.

After the interval, Dublin introduced several physically stronger players and did manage the first two points of the half through Cillian McCauley and Sé O’Brien.

However, Westmeath soon reasserted their dominance. Brennan, Fionn Carey, and Darragh Donegan all landed points to restore momentum for the hosts, who then added two further goals to underline their superiority.

Donegan bagged the second goal, with wing-back Conor Cleary providing the assist. Brennan netted the third after Monaghan’s goal effort was well saved by Dublin 'keeper Cormac Byrne, only for the ball to fall kindly for Brennan to tap home.

Connaire continued to impress with another point, and with the game firmly decided and substitutions coming thick and fast, Dublin finally began to make some inroads on the scoreboard. Evan Walsh, McCauley (with his second), and Noah Jones all registered late points to give the final scoreline a slightly more respectable look.

Westmeath will be more than satisfied with both the performance and the result, which gets them up and running in the competition.

Scorers - Westmeath – A Connaire 1-2 (1f), F Brennan 1-1, D Donegan 1-1, D Murray 0-2, T Weir, Z Bates, M Monaghan, F Carey, O O’Reilly 0-1 each.

Dublin – C McCauley 0-2, S O’Brien, E Walsh, H Smith, P Glennon 0-1 each.

Westmeath panel: Caelim Byrne, Aaron Claffey, Thomas Brennan, Conor Cleary, Cathal Cleary, Darragh Reilly, Darragh Murray, Tristan Boyce-Jordan, Tom Weir, Fionn Carey, Fionn Brennan, Zak Bates, Mark Monaghan, Aaron Connaire, Darragh Donegan, Sean Hickey, Andy Sinnott, Lee McHugh, Reech Brady, David Reilly, Hugo Corroon, Ben Thornton, Josh Murphy.

Dublin panel: Caomhnhe Byrne, Evan Walsh, Conor Donovan, James Cullen, Ross O’Brien, Darragh Curtin, Seb Kenny, Pearse Glennon, Jamie Byrne, Alex Watson, Joe Joyce, Dáithí Grant, Charlie Costello, Hugo Smith, Rian Tracey. Subs: James McNail, Cillian McCauley, Noah Jones, Sé O’Brien.

Referee: Vinnie Cox (Rosemount).