O'BYRNE CUP: Westmeath 0-12 Dublin 1-8:THERE WAS no water shortage in Lakepoint Park, Mullingar last night as Pat Gilroy's new-look Dublin side exited the O'Byrne Cup when suffering the narrowest of defeats to their hosts, Westmeath.

Played in a torrential downpour, the home side claimed the spoils when Paul Greville converted a 73rd-minute free to carry his side to victory.

Westmeath had dominated the opening half when, aided by a driving breeze, they turned over with a 0-10 to 1-1 advantage.

Scorer-in-chief Denis Glennon tormented the Dublin defence after Mossy Quinn had given the visitors an early lead.

Glennon rattled off six points for Pat Flanagan’s spirited side and looked in complete control in the opening period.

Eoghan O’Gara carved open the home defence in the 11th minute and created the opening for Kevin McManamon to goal, but that was to be their final contribution to the scoreboard in the opening half.

Given the atrocious conditions, many brave souls had travelled from the capital for the tie and they would have expected a Dublin resurgence on the change of ends. And they weren’t disappointed.

After Paul Greville had flashed a ball over Stephen Cluxton’s crossbar when a goal looked on, Dublin took over and but for some stout defending from the home side, the game could have taken a different twist.

Points from McManamon, Denis Bastick, Alan Hubbard and McManamon again, left three between the sides midway through the half. But the scores dried up as Westmeath battened down the hatches.

Two Mossy Quinn points and a last-minute Pádraig Lee effort appeared to beckon extra-time, but when Westmeath substitute Simon Quinn was upended three minutes into injury-time, Paul Greville converted to secure a merited victory.

WESTMEATH:D. Quinn; R. Doyle, R. English, G. Quinn; M. Curley, A. Finnan, C. Jordan; B. Murtagh (0-1), N. Kilcoyne; A. Giles (0-1), Denis Glennon (0-6), G. Egan; P. Greville (0-3), P. Tormey, J. Connellan (0-1). Subs: F. Boyle for G. Quinn; S. Quinn for Giles; David Glennon for Connellan; J. Dolan for Curley.

DUBLIN: S. Cluxton; C. McKiernan, S. Murray, D. Nelson; P. Casey, G. Brennan, D. Daly; C. Murray, D. Bastic (0-1); A. Hubbard, T. Quinn (0-3), D. Kelly; K. Bonner, E. OGara, K. McManamon (1-2). Subs: P. Lee (0-1) for McKiernan; M.D. McCauley for C. Murray; D. Lally (0-1) for Hubbard; G. Cullen for Bonner; Bonner for Kelly; P. Sharry for Kilcoyne.

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford).