Preview : Dublin v Westmeath Allianz NHL

Mon, 11th March 2024

By Conor Martin

Dublin host Westmeath in the final round of Allianz Hurling League fixtures on Saturday, looking to put the weekend's defeat against Galway behind them.

Dónal Burke impressed against Galway with 1-09, which saw him convert a penalty in the 21st minute. Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing and Cian O’Sullivan also registered scores before Conor Donohoe, Burke and Ronan Hayes put Dublin ahead, only for Galway to hit a hat-trick of unanswered scores and lead by two at the break.

The game became a fiery affair after the players came back out for the second-half and Burke and O’Sullivan did their bit to keep us within contention.

Dublin were unable to make the extra man count when Galway's Jack Grealish saw red. Burke put us in front, but we would lose a man ourselves when Hayes saw red.

Dublin wouldn’t register a score between the 48th and 75th minute and despite Galway finishing with 12 men after losing Conor Whelan and Daithí Burke, we would lose by an eight-point margin.

Saturday's visitors to Parnell Park picked up their first win of the league season over Antrim on Sunday.

David Williams, David O’Reilly and Eoin Keyes all helped Westmeath to a four-point lead at the break, with Keyes grabbing himself a three-pointer.

They were never really troubled by Antrim in the second-half and a Davy Glennon goal in the 59th minute gave Joe Fortune’s men a lead of six before Westmeath saw out the win without any late Antrim pressure.

Williams, Keys and Glennon will be looking to keep their form going. Williams hit 0-8 against Antrim and so far in the league he has an impressive total of 2-39 to his name from the four league matches so far. 2-14 of that tally came against a very talented Tipperary side, which shows what he is capable of in front of the posts.

Dublin will be looking to the likes of O’Sullivan, who has had a league campaign to remember on a personal level, and Dónal Burke to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Let's pack out Parnell Park on Saturday for the Boys in Blue!

You can buy tickets here!