Duffy picks up Westmeath's first black card as Students prevail
Bord na Mona O'Byrne Cup
DCU 2-15, Westmeath 2-9
Shandonagh midfielder David Duffy was Westmeath GAA's first ever black card recipient, as Paul Bealin's experimental Lake County line-up slumped to defeat against DCU in the O'Byrne Cup last night.
Duffy was sent to the line and replaced by Dean McNicholas, after being pulled up for dragging an opponent - an offence which, under the new rules, is categorised as "cynical behaviour".
In-form DCU - who themselves had a player sidelined for a black card infringement (40 minutes) - made the most of Duffy's absence at the centre of the park, and built up a 2-6 to 0-7 at half time.
Goals from Conor McGreanor and Paddy Fox set them on their way at St Loman's Lakepoint Park, but the hosts bounced back with goals from Paul Sharry and Dessie Dolan.
Callum McCormack kicked three points for the Lake County, but McGreanor and Fox were in fine fettle for the Students, as was young Dublin star Conor McHugh, who helped himself to six points (0-4 from frees).
Westmeath - missing several regular players due to injury or commitments to college teams - travel to Haggardstown on Sunday to play Louth in their final game.
Professor Niall Moyna's troops, meanwhile, look every bit the contenders for the O'Byrne Cup, and they face Dublin in a winner-takes-all match at the weekend.
Westmeath: Darren Quinn; Steven Gilmore, Shane Flynn, Damien Dolan; Jamie Gonoud (0-1), John Gilligan, John Egan (0-1); David Duffy, Denis Corroon; Paul Sharry (1-0), Gavin Hoey, Lorcan Smyth; Alan Giles (0-2, frees), Callum McCormack (0-3), Tommy McDaniel. Subs: Dean McNicholas for Duffy (b/c, 29), Dessie Dolan (1-1, 0-1f) for McDaniel (h/t), Killian Daly for Smyth (h/t), Kevin Maguire for Flynn (h/t), David Lynch for Egan (40), Seanie Daly for Sharry (50).
DIT: J Farrelly; W Lowry, C Dunleavy, C Cafferky; F O'Shea, J Smith, P Dooney; E O'Connor, B Donnelly (0-1); E Murray (0-1), P Fox (1-2), D Byrne (0-1); C McHugh (0-6, 4f), C McGreanor (1-3, 0-1f), D Wrynn. Subs: M Quinn for O’Shea (h/t), G Kelly (0-1) for Wrynn (b/c, 40), S Oates for Smith (inj., 46), T Flynn for McGreanor (61).
Ref: Cormac Reilly (Meath).