Dorney goal kills off Westmeath's brave bid for third under-21 crown

The history books will forever record that Dublin retained their Leinster under-21 football crown with a six-point win over Westmeath in Parnell Park on Sunday, 4 April, 2010. However, the scoreline does scant justice to a totally committed Lake County side whose storming second-half fightback looked set to garner a third provincial title in the grade, until the winners' unanswered 1-2 in the closing stages wrapped up a deserved, if very flattering, victory. Maroon and white-clad fans have been conspicuously absent from Westmeath's National Football League games this year, while it has to be conceded that the performances from Brendan Hackett's charges have been often less than riveting. However, the colours were in abundance in and around Donnycarney on Easter Sunday as the county attempted to perform a football resurrection after a barren decade at underage level. Westmeath supporters by far outnumbered the locals and a great atmosphere prevailed in Parnell Park, with the midlanders genuinely expected to push the Dubs all the way. By half-time, much of the visitors' enthusiasm had been curbed as an often error-ridden and nervy Westmeath performance, allied to some fine play by the metropolitans and some questionable refereeing decisions, had left Denis Corroon and his merry men with a mountain to climb when trailing by six points, albeit with wind advantage to come on the change of ends. A tremendously spirited display in the third quarter had the maroon and whites seemingly in pole position when behind by just a point and very much on top of proceedings, with John Heslin by now at his majestic best at centrefield. The feeling abounded that an equaliser would be a stepping-stone to outright victory, but alas it didn't come and an array of missed chances, including a glorious goal opportunity which fell to James Durkan with ten minutes of normal time remaining, ultimately proved fatal. With Dublin hanging on by their fingertips, a great move was finished to the net by Ciarán Dorney in the 59th minute and late points by Ted Furman and Dean Rock, against an understandably deflated Westmeath side, merely distorted the winning margin. Westmeath started quite brightly, but James Durkan was twice blocked as he got set to pull the trigger for an opening point. Dean Rock showed throughout this highly entertaining contest that he has inherited the freetaking skills of his legendary father, former Westmeath manager Barney Rock, and he pointed a great free from 45 metres in the second minute. Ian Coffey, who never managed to replicate his fine form from the semi-final win, was then very unlucky to see his effort go wide via the upright, but the losers were soon level, a dashing run from Ger Egan setting up Callum McCormack for a wonderful point. Westmeath's commitment to the cause was not in doubt, but some nervy moments ensued with the ball being given away cheaply, leading directly and indirectly to the winners' pair of rapid-fire points from James McCarthy and Jonathan Cooper, which put Dublin two points to the good by the ninth minute. Brendan Hackett's troops then had a lucky escape when a less-than-inch-perfect pass across the square from David Quinn (Na Fianna) was gratefully collected by Darren Quinn, when a goal looked very likely. Westmeath's unforced errors continued before Conor Lynam (who was generally back to his scintillating best on Sunday) almost picked out Ian Coffey, but Dublin's powerfully-built netminder Vincent Whelan emerged to clear his lines. Coffey's opposite number, Barry O'Rorke then kicked a sublime point from a left-footed free and Ciarán Dorney followed up in the 13th minute with a lovely point from play. Dublin, as is their wont, fielded a physically powerful side and they were dominating the midfield exchanges, as evidenced by an unchallenged catch from Sean Murray from the resulting kick-out. Conor Lynam kept Westmeath in touch with a neat point from play but he spurned another chance in the next Lake County attack, after a swift passing movement. Referee Damien Brazil was not making too many friends in Westmeath with his fussy application of a number of rules, particularly the acceptability of hand-passes, seemingly sticking to the experimental interpretation as currently in operation in the National League. In the 20th minute, Westmeath's understandable protests made Dean Rock's free kick relatively simple and the Ballymun Kickhams man made no mistake. A moment of light relief followed when the PA announcer introduced "David Quinn for David Quinn" as a Dublin sub, with the Lucan Sarsfields player replacing his Na Fianna namesake. Another dubious free, this time awarded against Ger Egan for another illegal 'throw', led to Dean Rock's third success from a placed ball. The latter player was then unable to find the target from a Dublin '45', while the hitherto-anonymous John Heslin was short from a 40-metre free. Sandwiched between these misses, John Egan almost picked out Ian Coffey in a potentially goalscoring position. With three minutes of normal time remaining, James Durkan got on the scoresheet with a fine left-footed point. Lucan's David Quinn replied with a good score after being picked out by the impressive Jonathan Cooper. John Heslin's very disappointing first moiety was compounded by a 30th-minute yellow card and Dean Rock added another point from the resultant free, leaving Jim Gavin's side in firm control at the break, the scoreboard reading: Dublin 0-9 Westmeath 0-3. Westmeath revival The visitors needed scores early in the second half and Conor Lynam showed his maturity by converting two very tricky frees, and the maroon and white flags were waved with increased enthusiasm in the packed stand. Lynam was wide from a free further out the field but Westmeath were lording possession and the signs were good, even if Dublin's greater physique regularly saw them emerge with ball in hand after 50/50 clashes. In the eighth minute, Nicky Devereux's shot came back off the top of the crossbar, but an alert Dean Rock was on hand to put his side into double figures. Conor Lynam pointed another free, after substitute Lorcan Smyth was fouled, and the St. Loman's, Mullingar ace left just three points between the sides, with exactly ten minutes elapsed in the second half, after taking a perceptive pass from 'blood sub' Tommy McDaniel (as James Durkan was being attended to). When Durkan returned, he was fouled some 35 metres from goal and Conor Lynam again proved his worth by converting the ensuing free. Westmeath fans were now in full voice, but corner forwards Ian Coffey and James Durkan were unable to find the target under severe pressure from a tight-marking sky blue defence. The great skill of high fielding was to the fore in the second half, Dean Rock making a memorable catch at the midpoint of the half, but John Heslin unquestionably took the honours in this department with some breathtaking fetching insuring that the losers' forwards had ample possession. In the 17th minute, the energetic Paul Sharry reduced the deficit to the bare minimum with a splendid point after soloing goalward. Westmeath hearts soon fluttered when Ciarán Dorney almost rolled the ball past Darren Quinn, with Kevin Maguire eventually clearing his lines. The game's undoubted turning point arrived with exactly ten minutes of regulation time remaining. James Durkan swapped passes with Paul Sharry and the Ballinagore man looked sure to score, but his left-footed shot whizzed the wrong side of the post from a Westmeath perspective. Further misses ensued involving James Dolan (a wild effort), close shaves from Tommy McDaniel (now on as a 'permanent' sub for Callum McCormack) and Dolan again. A loose pass forward from a well-placed Paul Sharry added to Westmeath's frustration and the losers were made to pay for their profligacy in the 59th minute when Nicky Devereux and substitute Jonathan McDermott combined superbly to tee up Ciarán Dorney who blasted a great angled shot past Darren Quinn from 12 metres. To all intents and purposes it was 'game, set and match' to the Dubs at this juncture and injury-time points from sub Ted Furman and Dean Rock (from a free after Nicky Devereux was fouled) merely served to distort the scoreline in the winners' favour.Westmeath Gaels have been spoilt over an unprecedented decade and a half of success on the country's Gaelic football fields. Victories over Kildare, Meath and Laois in the one provincial championship would have been virtually unthinkable prior to 1995. All concerned with this well-drilled under-21 side deserve great credit for an outstanding campaign. They have performed with great pride in the jersey and displayed admirable dignity right to the bitter end, including sportingly remaining on the pitch for the presentation ceremony (a fact acknowledged by Jonathan Cooper in his victory speech). However, the Westmeath bandwagon could so easily be heading to an All-Ireland semi-final showdown with Roscommon. But, as Brendan Hackett said afterwards, "football can often be just a matter of inches". SCORERS - Dublin: D. Rock 0-6 (5f); C. Dorney 1-1; J. Cooper, D. Quinn (Lucan Sarsfields), T. Furman, J. McCarthy and B. O'Rorke (f) 0-1 each. Westmeath: C. Lynam 0-6 (4f), C. McCormack, J. Durkan and P. Sharry 0-1 each. DUBLIN: Vincent Whelan; Eoin Culligan, Rory O'Carroll, Jonathan Cooper (capt); Darragh Nelson, Sean Murray, Nicky Devereux; James McCarthy, Mark Coughlan; Ciarán Dorney, Gavin McIntyre, Gary Sweeney; Barry O'Rorke, David Quinn (Na Fianna), Dean Rock. Subs: David Quinn (Lucan Sarsfields) (for Quinn, 20 mins), Ted Furman (for McIntyre, h-t), Eoghan Keogh (for Coughlan, 38), Seán McGuinness (for Culligan, 43), Jonathan McDermott (for Keogh, 53). WESTMEATH: Darren Quinn; Ben Moran, Kevin Maguire, Ronan Doyle; Ger Egan, Kieran Martin, James Dolan; Denis Corroon (capt), John Heslin; Paul Sharry, John Egan, Conor Lynam; Ian Coffey, Callum McCormack, James Durkan. Subs: Lorcan Smyth (for Egan, h-t), Tommy McDaniel (for McCormack, 53 mins), Shane Mulvihill (for Sharry, 60). REFEREE: Damien Brazil (Offaly).