Leinster SHC

[AZOffaly]

Janey lads, that was poor stuff out of Dublin for about 40 minutes. You always got the feeling they had more gears to go through, but the final score was very flattering, because Westmeath completely fell away when the first goal went in, even though Dublin were opening their legs at that stage already. 2 things finally broke the Westmeath resistence. Firstly Darren McCormack took a short free when there was 5 points in it, and didn't see the Dublin half forward loitering with intent. He gave it straight to him, and bang, over the 'blue' spot. Then the disaster of a goal where the keeper did well to field the ball, but was criminally blocked down by a hard-working O'Callaghan, who finished to an empty net.

That was game set and match, but Dublin were always going to win when they started off the second half on the front foot.

What I'd be worried about if I were a Dublin fan was the fact that for a good portion of the game, Westmeath won a lot of 50-50 battles, and only for their striking was poor, would have had a bigger lead than one point at half time.

Dublin were crisper, and the better hurlers in possession, but they will need to improve.

[INDIANA]

in fairness az westmeath are a lot better than laois. they have 5/6 players that really would grace a lot of county sides. i thought dublin started very slowly, and were below par in the first half. after 5 mins of the second half the game was over for me. dublin started to hurl at div 1 pace and westmeath couldn't keep up as you'd expect being in the lower division. the half forward line on aerial ball killed us in the first half and the whole line needs reconstruction before the wexford game otherwise the wexford half back line will wipe the floor with us.
the performance will dampen the hype, that was a banana skin yesterday. we have a good chance against wexford but nothing more. we certainly won't be favourites but there is a chance we could edge them but it's probably 60-40 wexford really. if we had mc crabbe,kevin o reilly and derrek o reilly i actually think we would win but without them it will be touch and go at best. wexford certainly won't be losing any sleep over us.

[Croí na hÉireann]

Saw bits and pieces online, Westmeath looked good in patches but were blown away in the second half. Heads went down after the first goal, which Briody should have let go out for a wide. Ridiculous that they're back to the Christy Ring now and Laois go into the qualifiers but they'll need to get their heads down now, win Christy again and give Div 2 a right lash next year.

[Mentalman]

Disappointing yesterday. I had a feeling from the divison 2 final that we were making much too hard work of the game, and were really dependent on 3 or 4 key players, the others were very interchangable. Yesterday proved that, starting without Murtagh, but having to bring him in, and the way the heads went down in the second half. I don't think any of us thought we would surprose Dublin like we did two years back, but you really wanted to be still in the game or at least competing come the end. You'd have to wonder can they get themselves up for yet another Christy Ring. I think they will need it heading into a far tougher division 2 next year.

[Gnevin]

Dublin V Wexford , jasus its years since i've been looking forward to a Leinster Championship like this. My guess is it will be extremely tight but Dublin will win it