SFC - Dublin 4-26 Westmeath 0-11

Dublin 4-26 Westmeath 0-11

Gary Connaughton must be glad he didn’t play in the league encounter earlier this year as Dublin walloped Westmeath by 27 points again & set up a Leinster final outing against Kildare in 2 weeks.

By any standards the Dubs had an extraordinary start racing to an 8 point lead in less than 10 minutes & scoring with 40 seconds of the restart. That move, Ross outfielding his direct opponent playing quick ball in to Conal Keaney who laid off to Bernard Brogan for a point set the tone for the day. The Dubs moved the ball quick fast, direct & the midlanders had no answer for the power of the boys in blue. Frustrated keeper Connaughton, who saw every kickout taken by a blue shirt, tried a short one inside 30 minutes only to see Bernard Brogan intercept a handpass between defenders and bury the ball high into the roof of the net. Bernard’s celebration showed the joy of the day & settled the game as a contest, by h/t it was 1-14 to 0-04, a 13 point lead J

There was some concern that the Dubs might ease of in the 2^nd period but it wasn’t to be. With Jason Sherlock causing havoc up front, Diarmuid Connolly & Paul Flynn winning every breaking ball around the middle & with Keaney, & the Brogan boys in scoring form Westmeath were in for a trouncing. This ruthlessness streak saw 3 more goals, Connaughton had a nightmare in missing a crossfield ball leaving Bernard in for a tap in, while Darren Magee & substitute Mossy Quinn also shot to the net. The Dubs even had time for a penalty miss from Conal Keaney.

There were impressive cameo appearances for Whelo, Cullen & Ryan with Ryaner charging up field to set up one of the 2^nd half points.

And so on the Glorious Twelfth, Orangeman’s Day the men of Dublin take on Na Fianna’s Kieran McGeeney & his Kildare tribe. It will be a cracker.

Dublin -- Stephen Cluxton (Parnells), David Henry (Raheny), Denis Bastick (Templeogue/Synge Street), Rory O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes), Paul Griffin (Kilmacud Crokes), Ger Brennan (St. Vincents) (Bryan Cullen (Skerries Harps) (55)), Barry Cahill (St. Brigids) (0-01), Ross McConnell (St. Oliver Plunketts /ER) (0-01), Darren Magee (Kilmacud Crokes) (1-00) (Ciaran Whelan (Raheny) (60)), Paul Flynn (Fingallians) (0-01), Alan Brogan (St. Oliver Plunketts /ER) (0-04) (Pat Burke (Kilmacud Crokes (50)), Diarmuid Connolly (St. Vincents) (0-01), Conal Keaney (Ballyboden St. Endas) (0-03) (Tomas Quinn (St. Vincent’s) (55) (1-01), Bernard Brogan (St. Oliver Plunketts /ER) (2-08) (Shane Ryan (Naomh Mearnog) (60)), Jason Sherlock (St. Oliver Plunketts /ER) (0-06)

Westmeath - Gary Connaughton, John Keane, Francis Boyle, Kieran Gavin, Derek Heavin (Paul Sharry (55)), Michael Ennis (Willie Murtagh (60)), Donal O’Donoghue (Damien Healy (30)), Martin Flanagan (David O’Shaughnessy (30) (0-01)), David Duffy, Fergal Wilson (Dessie Dolan (50)), John Smyth, Doran Harte, John Connellan (0-04), Denis Glennon (0-03), Conor Lynam (0-03).