Match Report - Dublin v. Westmeath NFL (R1)

Dublin 1-07 Westmeath 1-05

Winter football. Don' read too much into it - the famous words of Paul Caffrey on another day. There's a lot of truth in it. The pitch much improved from previous games, congrats to the ground staff, but the ball still wasn't bouncing & the game suffering from repeated Westmeath interruptions. Dublin started powerfully with Eamonn Fennell magnificent at midfield. Mark Vaughan kicked his frees & we were out of the block. Then a lull & Westmeath fought back. Highlight of the 1st half was the intricate move which freed up Paul Flynn (Progamme writers note from Fingallians not Kickhams) to shoot home his 1st Dublin senior goal. Even with a hugeposession advantage the Dubs were misfiring sending in poor ball to the forward line & not being clinical enough. Westmeath took advantage pulling 1 point ahead but to be fair to the boys they rolled up their sleeves and led by the inspirational Philip McMahon Vaughan continued his point scoring from frees to see the Jacks home. 2 points on the board and a chance to blow away the cobwebs. With the Cork game looking increasingly unlikely Pillar will have a chance to work mor with the players & give some more recovery time to those injured. O'Byrne Cup Final next on Friday night & another chance to see the blossoming talent of McMahon, Fennell & Flynn.


Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; David Henry, Niall O'Shea, Stephen O'Shaughnessy; Philip McMahon, Paul Casey, Colin Moran; Eamonn Fennell, Shane Ryan; Bryan Cullen (0-01) (Declan Lally)), Jason Sherlock, Paul Flynn (1-00) (Derek Murray (65)); John O'Brien (Brendan McManamon (40)), Conal Keaney (0-01) (Kevin Boner (70)), M Vaughan (0-05).

Westmeath: G Connaughton; J Keane, K Gavin, F Boyle; M Ennis, D Heavin, D Healy; M Flanagan (0-02), D Duffy; F Wilson, A Clinton (K Scally (60)), D Bannon (A Mangan (15) (D O'Donoghue (65))); M Green, D Dolan (1-02) (T Cleary (65)), P Bannon ( G Dolan (20)).