Tom Humphriesfinds the contrast between the respective camps predictably stark after Dublin's 27-point victory over Westmeath

PAT GILROY got his press duties out of the way before the last toot of the referee’s whistle had ended the game. His efficiency is such that he may in future games be circulating the press box with typed notes that explore his reaction to the game unfolding below.

“Yeah, the finishing was a hell of a lot better today,” he said in relation to the main criticism which clung to Dublin after the first round game.

“The option-taking was a hell of a lot better. Guys are playing for their places. Guys we brought in are playing well. That’s the way we set it out at the beginning of the year and that’s the way we want them to be.”

We were at a slight loss as to what to say. Gilroy is succinct and to the point and the evidence of the work being done with Dublin had just unfolded all over the Croke Park pitch. There wasn’t a lot to ask.

Happy with that 27-pt win?

Somebody asked about Bernard Brogan who was substituted the last day. If every forward who got taken off in a championship match responded with 2-8 next time out managers’ lives would be much more simple.

“I thought Bernard did very well not only in his own play but he took much better options.”

Footpassing! Ventured somebody. Yes footpassing. Down the years many Dublin teams have turned to the Hill and begged the faithful, forgive us our footpasses. Yesterday they were footpassing with confidence.

“Footpassing?” repeated Pat. “From early on the year we worked a lot with the ball and in the first half I thought some of our passing was very good especially in the first 15 or 20 minutes.”

So a bit more about the finishing.

“We started off with a tough game against Meath and didn’t play that well; our finishing was poor. We finished a lot better. The way things go you just have to think of the next game. Our training sessions are tough. We will develop from them.

“We had one of those days when everything that could go our way went our way. When that happens you get a score like that.”

Alright, enough of the good vibes Mr Bojangles. What about your full-back line?

“The full-back line? I was happy enough. One of the more dangerous parts of the Westmeath team. Not perfect but Rory did well I thought, he looked a solid player as he does in training. “

And Kildare?

“Kildare have been playing very well and will be a hard team to play. They have their act together and will be tackling hard.”

Satisfied that Pat Gilroy is never going to run off at the mouth in good times or bad we let him go.

Paul Griffin was just as pleased and just as circumspect.

“It was a clinical enough performance. We built up a good lead early on. We kept pushing on and built up a good score. We are delighted to be back in the Leinster final. I think Westmeath are always a tough team to play against but everything we kicked went over, Darren and Ross won everything. After 10 minutes we had a seven or eight-point lead. It is hard for a team to come back from that.”

Honestly there is not really a lot to ask either side after a 27-point win. Was this huge win better than that narrow win the last day we wondered? “There was a lot more nerves and anxiousness with the Meath game, lads were maybe too eager to get scores and there was poor option-taking. We got a lot of nice simple scores today just from quick hands and nice interplay.”

Tomás Ó Flatharta wandered in bearing the jolly demeanour of a dead man walking. The local Westmeath press perked up at the sight of him like dogs catching a glimpse of the fox.

“It was a very disappointing day for us,” said Tomás. “It is hard to cope with something like that. I first want to congratulate Dublin on their victory. They started off working very hard for each other and they finished in style. I’m not sure what happened. ”

A horror show really?

“I suppose you could call it that.” said Tomás

What happened?

“I think you just have to look at the quality of the Dublin performance. They started with a bang. Got score after score. Winning midfield. Winning all the kick-outs. Winning early ball and the backs were under pressure. Just seem to be a new team, very strong and working well for each other.”

But last year ye played a very strong game defensively. Did it not occur to you today to move some lads back to close off the spaces?

“We learned last year we had a very good defence but didn’t have the strength in the forwards. We brought a guy back but Dublin were winning all the breaks in midfield.”

Have Dublin kicked on?

“I think they really have picked it up. Very strong physically. Very fit. They always know what is going to happen next and there is somebody there for them all the time.”

The man had suffered enough. Even the Torquemada’s of the local media felt so. He was released. Last words to John Keane. Captain of his county, John, still in his jersey, came and faced the music.

Demoralised? “Individually and collectively we let ourselves down. We knew they would come at us strong in the first 20 minutes as they always do. It is always damage-limitation against Dublin early on but we were confident that if we could withstand that we would hold our own. The goal was a killer. A mistake involving myself. A killer.

Twelve months ago ye were two points off Dublin?

“Dublin have got stronger and fitter. We slid back today. I know the Westmeath men. We know we are not as poor as that. We have to come back on Tuesday night and regroup. We’ll sleep on it. Come back on Tuesday. We will either roll over and die or come back stronger. It is up to us.”

Tuesday somewhere in Westmeath. It will be a tough place to be.