Not to be for our Minor Hurlers against Westmeath

DUBLIN 0-15 

WESTMEATH 1-19

Westmeath impressed from the outset when beating Dublin by seven points in their Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship Tier 1 Round 2 encounter at Páirc Mhic Eochagáin in Castletown Geoghegan on Saturday afternoon. 

Having narrowly overcome Wexford a week previously, the Dubs travelled down full of confidence but they had to concede second best to a Westmeath team that controlled matters for the large part. 

Despite playing with the breeze in the first-half, Dublin deservedly trailed by 1-9 to 0-7 by the turnaround with MJ Long netting for Westmeath in the 3rd minute.

The Dubs continued to battle upon the resumption but they proved powerless to curb the influence of match-winner Conor Raleigh, who finished with ten points to his name, including six from open play. 

It was a less than encouraging start for the visitors, who lost full-back Oscar Brennan through injury in the 2nd minute before Long raced through unopposed a minute later to fire past Dara Stynes from eight yards. 

Richie Hession, who struck 1-8 in that win against Wexford, opened Dublin’s account with a fine point from play but the hosts were rewarded for a bright start through a brace of points from the lively Raleigh. 

While Marc Dempsey doubled Dublin’s tally in the 9th minute, the visitors found themselves five points in arrears soon after with Eoghan Goldrick and Raleigh both on target. 

Evan Forde and Stynes (free) replied for the Dubs but the hosts continued to enjoy the upper hand as Raleigh popped over his fourth point of the half early into the second quarter. 

Dublin struggled for fluency throughout, despite a Corey Kelly point, while their opponents finished the half on the front through a Long point and a Dara Geary brace, moving five points clear in the process.

The contest resumed in a similar vein as Raleigh popped over a brace of frees in the opening six minutes while further points from Conor Williams (free) and Dean Kelly saw Westmeath extend their lead to nine points. 

Dublin eventually offered a threat of their own up front as substitute Brian Farrell added a brace in quick succession and Forde’s second point of the match offered hope as the contest evolved. 

However, Raleigh’s brilliance at the opposite end ensured that the hosts maintained their buffer as he swivelled for two excellent points either side of the three-quarter mark. 

A trio of Hession frees saw Dublin close to a more manageable six-points deficit in the final quarter but it was fitting that Raleigh should have the final word as he completed the scoring entering added time.  

Scorers – Dublin: R Hession 0-7 (5f, 1 ’65); E Forde, B Farrell 0-2 each; M Dempsey, D Stynes (f), C Kelly, D Ware 0-1 apiece. Westmeath: C Raleigh 0-10 (4f); MJ Long 1-1; D Geary, D Kelly 0-2 each; E Goldrick, C Cleary, C Williams (f), T Wrafter 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: D Stynes; C McCluskey, O Brennan, F Reville; C Nevin, J O’Keefe, D Ware; C Kelly, P Batten; S Gavigan, J Davy, R Hession; E Forde, M Dempsey, J Ledwidge. Subs: A Ferguson for Brennan (2), S Russell for Batten (half-time), B Farrell for Dempsey (half-time), D Ward for Davy (40), T Dillon for Gavigan (51). 

Westmeath: O Devine; C Matthews, C McKeogh, O Gavin; C Clarke, C Williams, E Goldrick; C Cleary, D Kelly; MJ Long, T Shaw, A Doyle; D Geary, E Beehan, C Raleigh. Subs: T Wrafter for Doyle (51), L Masterson for Kelly (55).

Referee: Jimmy Heavey (Wexford).