Senior Hurlers Beat Westmeath To Claim Second Successive NHL win

DUBLIN 1-22 

WESTMEATH 0-18 

Image courtesy Matthew Burke 

Dublin picked up their second successive victory in Division 1B of the Allianz National Hurling League, as they overcame Westmeath by seven points in TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar on Sunday afternoon.

After defeating Antrim in Round 1, the Dubs were forced to play the final quarter with fourteen men following the dismissal of Conal Ó Riain but were rarely troubled as they eased to a seven-point win.

Ó Riain’s goal in the 10^th minute helped build a 1-12 to 0-12 interval advantage and their defensive control after the break ensured there was no way back for the hosts, despite some late pressure on Eddie Gibbons’ goal.

There was a sparky enough start to proceedings as John Hetherton was booked within thirty seconds as the hosts took an early lead through Darragh McCormack.

Points from Diarmuid Ó Dulaing and Hetherton saw Dublin edge in front before Ó Riain repeated the trick from the opening night win against Antrim when he crashed home past Jack Gillen to push the visitors four points clear.

Two further scores from Ó Dúlaing and an excellent Fergal Whitely point extended Dublin’s lead to five points by the 15^th minute but Westmeath enjoyed their most dominant period of the game as they struck five scores on the bounce, including a trio from the influential David Williams.

With the dies deadlocked by the 20^th minute, a mammoth point by Darragh Power helped settle Dublin and they began to rebuild their buffer courtesy of further scores from Dara Purcell and Ó Riain.

While Williams kept the hosts within touching distance, the Dubs finished the half on the front foot as scores in quick succession by Ó Dúlaing and Power prompted a three-point lead by the break.

The visitors controlled large parts of the third quarter but that superiority wasn’t reflected accurately on the scoreboard despite points by Ó Dúlaing and Whitely.

Ó Riain’s dismissal for an off-the-ball incident should have encouraged the hosts but despite Williams keeping their scoreboard ticking over, they were unable to close the gap sufficiently in the final quarter.

Scores from debutant Brendan Kenny and his Kilmacud Crokes clubmate David Purcell ensured that Dublin kept matters in hand and an excellent save from Gibbons to deny Gary Greville approaching added time all but secured the win.

There was still sufficient time for David Purcell, Daire Gray and Whitely to add gloss to the final scoreline with late scores on what was another satisfactory outing for Niall Ó Ceallacháin’s team.

Dublin’s next match is on Saturday week when they play unbeaten Offaly in Croke Park, as part of a doubleheader with the footballers, who face Derry later that evening.

Scorers – Dublin: D Ó Dúlaing 0-9 (7f); C Ó Riain 1-1; F Whitely 0-3; D Power, David Purcell 0-2 each; D Gray, B Kenny, C Donohoe, J Hetherton, Dara Purcell 0-1 apiece. Westmeath: D Williams 0-10 (4f, 1 ‘65’)’ E Cunneen 0-3 (1 sideline); G Greville, P Clarke, D McCormack, M Cunningham, D O’Reilly 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: E Gibbons; J Bellew, D Lucey, P Smyth; D Gray, C Crummey, K Burke; C Burke, C Donohoe; C Ó Riain, F Whitely, D Power; D Ó Dúlaing, J Hetherton, Dara Purcell. Subs: David Purcell for Hetherton (30), B Hayes for Power (46), B Kenny for Dara Purcell (59), P Dunleavy for Crummey (60), C Foley for Kenny (Blood sub, 67).

Westmeath: J Gillen; C Gaffney, T Doyle, G Greville; J Bermingham, A Craig, E Keyes; P Clarke, S Williams; R Greville, D McCormack, M Cunningham; E Cunneen, N Mitchell, D Williams. Subs: R Keyes for R Greville (6), D O’Reilly for Mitchell (46), J Boyle for S Wiliams (48), D Glennon for R Keyes (61), N O’Brien for Cunneen (63), A Ennis for Doyle (Blood sub, 67).

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford).