Flashback: Dublin v Westmeath - Leinster Championship 2016

Dublin take on Westmeath in this weekend’s Leinster Senior Football Final- a repeat of our 2016 final meeting and 2-19 to 0-10 triumph.

Ahead of our challenge to regain our Leinster crown this Sunday, Conor Martin looks back at that final 10 years ago.

Jim Gavin’s Dublin delivered another trademark performance, brushing aside Westmeath to seal a sixth consecutive Leinster senior football title, their first six-in-a-row since 1979.

For a half, Westmeath frustrated the All-Ireland champions with a packed defence and fierce work-rate, trailing by just 0-07 to 0-06 at the break.

John Heslin kept the scoreboard moving with three frees, while Ger Egan chipped in with two classy early scores for Westmeath.

Dean Rock kept Dublin's scoreboard ticking over too, with four first-half frees before Gavin’s men burst into life after the restart. Three quick-fire points set the tone and, after Heslin briefly replied, Dublin hit full throttle.

The champions reeled off seven unanswered scores before landing the killer blow in the 58th minute. A sweeping move involving Paddy Andrews, Jonny Cooper and Brian Fenton carved Westmeath open for Bernard Brogan to palm home from close range.

Brogan finished with 1-4 in an impressive return to form, while Rock once again top-scored with eight points.

Dublin’s second goal was the pick of the lot.

Substitute Paul Mannion slipped a clever pass into the path of Kevin McManamon, who thundered a finish into the bottom corner to cap another ruthless Dublin surge.

John Small was immense throughout, while Fenton and Diarmuid Connolly produced flashes of class in a commanding display.

Dublin marched on to the All-Ireland series, where we’d go on to be crowned All-Ireland champions once more after a mammoth battle with Mayo, winning the replay to ensure Sam Maguire would sit alongside our Leinster and league silverware that year.