Strong first half helps U20 Hurlers beat Westmeath in Leinster qualifier

DUBLIN 1-31 

WESTMEATH 1-14

A dominant first-half showing proved telling as Dublin eased past Westmeath by seventeen points in their Leinster Under 20 Hurling Championship qualifier at TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar on Sunday lunchtime.

The Dubs raced out of the blocks with the first six points of the game en route to a deserved 0-15 to 1-6 interval lead with David O’Reilly netting a much-needed goal for the hosts in the 11^th minute.

Westmeath did narrow the gap to four points early in the third quarter but Dublin proved too strong by the final whistle with Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing adding gloss to the final scoreline with a goal in added time.

Remarkably, all of Dublin’s scores in the opening-half came from open play with Brendan Kenny and Jamie Conroy setting the tone with points in quick succession in the early stages.

The procession towards the home goal continued as David Purcell and his Kilmacud Crokes clubmate Kenny added to the away tally and Dublin were six points to the good in as many minutes following further scores by Conn Rock and Conal Ó Riain.

Westmeath finally opened their own account through a David Williams free in the 7^th minute but Dublin continued to impress up front as Conor Groarke and Purcell popped over scores.

The hosts offered themselves a degree of optimism as a lovely pass by McWilliams was finished superbly to the corner of the net by O’Reilly, beyond the despairing dive of Kevin Hogan in the Dublin goal.

The influential Purcell and Liam Garrigan ensured Westmeath couldn’t generate too much momentum from that goal although they enjoyed a greater degree of possession as the half evolved, as reflected in points from O’Reilly and Williams.

Kenny and Ó Riain were hugely effective for Dublin with the latter adding two further points before the end of the half but scores from Darragh McCormack, Williams and O’Reilly saw Westmeath trim their deficit to a more manageable six points by the interval.

The second-half resumed with Williams and Garrigan trading points but an improved Westmeath made further inroads into their arrears as Brian McCabe and O’Reilly added scores by the 36^th minute.

Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing chipped in with his first score of the afternoon soon after as Dublin regained their authority thanks to points by substitute Neil Hogan and Conroy.

While Williams and the talented O’Reilly replied for the hosts, Dublin looked far more assured as the half progressed with points by Hogan, Purcell and a Conroy brace leaving them well placed by the 48^th minute.

An injury to Dublin’s Conor Newton led to a lengthy delay before play resumed with Ollie Gaffney extending the away lead and the visitors pushed further clear as Dylan Bannan, Ó Dúlaing and Hogan punished some loose marking.

Dublin needed to remain vigilant at the opposite end with Westmeath substitute Shane Ormsby denied a goal on two occasions but when a green flag was raised, it was through Ó Dúlaing’s smart finish two minutes into added time.

Scorers – Dublin: D Ó Dúlaing 1-4 (0-3f), J Conroy, D Purcell 0-5 each, C Ó Riain 0-4, N Hogan 0-3, B Kenny, L Garrigan, D Bannan 0-2 each, C Rock, E Keys, C Groarke, O Gaffney 0-1 apiece. Westmeath: Williams 0-7 (6f), D O’Reilly 1-4, D McCormack, B McCabe, P Clarke 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: K Hogan; C Groarke, D Lucey, C Kennedy; B Kenny, C Dolan, E Keys; C Ó Riain, J Behan; P Gaffney, D Ó Dúlaing, D Purcell; L Garrigan, C Rock, J Conroy. Subs: C Newton for Rock (half-time), N Hogan for Kenny (half-time), F Murphy for Behan (50), D Bannan for Garrigan (50), C Donovan for Newton (50, inj).

Westmeath: S Jackson; D Maloney, Jack Murtagh, C Gaffney; D Smith, B McCabe, C McKeogh; R Holding, I Smyth; D Williams, D McCormack, D O’Reilly; C Heffernan, P Murphy, P Clarke. Subs: S Ormsby for Heffernan (27), Josh Murtagh for Smyth (half-time), T Flynn for Maloney (58), C Geary for Smith (59), M Shaw for Jack Murtagh (63).

Referee: Brian Kearney (Kildare).