GAELIC GAMES/Leinster SHC First round: Westmeath 0-13, Dublin 0-11 Most of the Westmeath hurlers in Portlaoise yesterday were not even born when the county last beat Dublin in a senior hurling championship match.
Truly a day of celebration for the midland county in a game played in atrocious conditions with persistent rain drenching the pitch from early yesterday morning.
The current generation of Westmeath hurlers, never short in drive and determination, went one point better than their predecessors, who scored that 2-12 to 2-11 win over the Dubs at Croke Park in 1982.
And the unexpected day of trouble for the recently-crowned Division Two champions continued to the final whistle. The Dublin team finished with 14 players after wing back Tommy Moore received his marching orders from Tipperary referee Jack Ryan in injury-time.
Dublin manager Tommy Naughton was gracious in defeat. He said: "Conditions were the same for both teams and we wish Westmeath the very best of luck in the future." He added: "They were perhaps that bit hungrier."
There was a notable lack of flowing hurling during the sodden 70 minutes and players inevitably declined to play the ball on the ground which was hardly surprising given the soft going.
There had been numerous inspections of the pitch from early morning. It was plain to see that at times Westmeath did relish the heavy going, especially the second half when they had a slight wind advantage.
A major task was apparent for Dublin from the start and none of their forwards managed to score in the opening half. In fact Dublin were put to the pin of their collars to score a point from play in the first half and they could manage only two points throughout the second.
However, central defenders Kevin Ryan and Ronan Fallon were two good reasons why Dublin managed to limit Westmeath's scoring potential, which largely came off the accurate stick of Andrew Mitchell's superb ability with the place ball.
Mitchell and Dublin's David Curtin were involved in a match-deciding duel with the placed ball. Mitchell had eight points, two from play, while Curtin, who had to be replaced in the closing stages because of injury, knocked over seven points, from frees and a 65.
"We trained very hard for this match", said Westmeath manager Séamus Qualter. "We have been training hard for this day way back in September last. We took the league as it came. It was always about May 21st for us.
"It is a huge day for Westmeath hurling and now the county is ready for a terrific occasion when Henry Shefflin and JJ Delaney will be coming to Cusack Park."
The winning manager was not prepared to single out any one of his players for special mention but the heroes in this historic Westmeath win were undoubtedly Darren McCormack, John Shaw, Noel Gavin and Paul Greville in defence. Mitchell could do no wrong when aiming at the Dublin posts and Derek McNicholas and Brendan Murtagh stood out in attack with midfielders Brian Connaughton and Enda Loughlin doing well in midfield.
Perhaps Mitchell's most inspiring point of the day came in the 26th minute of the second half when he drove a huge 85-yarder over the bar to give his team the lead for the first time in the game at 0-12 to 0-11.
Dublin, for all their faults, looked in a commanding position in the first half when having three point leads and they led by 0-9 to 0-6 at half-time.
WESTMEATH: M Briody; C Jordan, C Murphy, P Greville; J Shaw, D McCormack, N Gavin; B Connaughton, E Loughlin; G Gavin, B Murtagh (0-1), A Mitchell (0-8, six frees); B Kennedy (0-1), D McNicholas (0-2), J Clarke. Sub: D Carty (0-1) for G Gavin.
DUBLIN: G Maguire; P Brennan, K Ryan, T Brady; T Moore, R Fallon, M Carton (0-1); J McCaffrey (0-1), D Sweeney (0-1); S McDonnell, L Ryan (0-1), D Curtin (0-7, 0-6 frees. 0-1 65); K Dunne, K Flynn, S Lehane. Subs: J Kelly for Lehane, G O'Meara for Dunne. A De Paor for Caffrey. O Moran for McDonnell, A Crabbe for D Curtis.
Referee: J Ryan (Tipperary).
