Dubliners win over gallant Westmeath side

The combined schools side from Dublin South had a comfortable win over a wholehearted Westmeath side at the resplendent all-weather facility in the Sancta Maria grounds in Ballyboden on Thursday afternoon last in the first round of the Barry Cup.A wonderful display by the winners" ace marksman Oisín Ó Ruairc was the highlight of an entertaining contest. From his first touch after only 90 seconds, it was clear that the player wearing the number 24 jersey, but lining out at full forward, had all the skills of the game and he was undoubtedly the main difference between the sides. The losers will now hope to pick up points in the remaining round-robin fixtures against North Offaly and Kilkenny CBS, if they are to retain an interest in this Leinster "A" juvenile hurling competition.The metropolitans were quickly out of the traps and they raced into a commanding 1-5 to 0-0 lead by the 11th minute. Oisín Ó Ruairc accounted for0-4 of this total (only one of which was from a free) and it was his shot which was not held by Joseph Dugdale in the fifth minute, which allowed Eoin Murphy to guide the sliotar into an unguarded net. The other point came from the stick of Sean Treacy in the sixth minute.Two pointed frees from Robbie Greville, from 35 and 65 metres respectively, got the visitors on the scoreboard midway through the half. However, that lad Oisín Ó Ruairc struck again for another brace of points, both from routine frees. A great run from midfielder Emmet Corrigan set up Robbie Greville for a goal chance, but the Raharney clubman shot tamely. A neat point from Conor Stone increased the Dubliners" lead, but Robbie Greville responded with a converted free. Indeed, it is to the Lake County lads"credit that they notched the two remaining scores of the first moiety.These came from Emmet Corrigan (the home fans claiming that the ball had crossed the sideline en route - there were no linesmen on duty) and another Robbie Greville free with the last puck of the half in the 31st minute.This left the score at the interval reading: Dublin South1-8 Westmeath Schools 0-5.A fine point from an acute angle from Dublin"s Matthew Geraghty in the second minute opened the scoring on the change of ends. A brace of points from Robbie Greville, a terrific solo score and a simple free, reduced the deficit. Points from Sean Treacy and an Oisín Ó Ruairc free increased the navy blues" lead, with the losers replying with a point by Kieran Glennon, the ball just shaving the crossbar on the wrong side. This left six points between the sides, but it was all one-way traffic for the ensuing seven minutes with the winners bagging an unanswered 2-4 between the 11th and 17th minutes. An Oisín Ó Ruairc special and a delicate touch from Sean Treacy (from Ó Ruairc"s pass) saw the green flag being raised twice in a devastating four-minute period. Points followed from Conor Stone, Oisín Ó Ruairc, a monster free from Colm Ó Cróinín and Ó Ruairc again (the latter score almost being another goal).A well-taken point from Luke Loughlin stopped the rot somewhat in the 22nd minute, but Dublin substitutes, Dara Ó Se and Leo Gory soon tacked on another point apiece.A tidy point from Robbie Greville ensued before Dublin midfielder Kevin Ward took centre stage with two wonderful points from play. Westmeath had the satisfaction of wrapping up the scoring, a rare defensive error by the winners allowing Luke Loughlin in for a well-taken goal.Indeed, Westmeath"s commendable spirit was epitomised by another goalscoring attempt from Emmet Corrigan in the dying moments, but Dublin goalkeeper Keith Robinson did very well to keep the sliotar out.Dublin South: Keith Robinson; Gary Quinlivan, David Corish, Odhrán Ó Siochrú; Marc Ó Loughlin, Colm Ó Cróinín (0-1, from a free), Jack Ó Béacháin; Kevin Ward (0-2), Ben McEntee; Eoin Murphy (1-0), Andrew Murphy, Matthew Geraghty (0-1); Sean Treacy (1-2), Oisín Ó Ruairc (1-9, 0-4 from frees), Conor Stone (0-2). Subs: Dara Ó Sé (0-1) (for A.Murphy, half-time), Sean Corcoran (for E.Murphy, 39 mins), Ronan Magee (for Ó Siocrú, 43 mins), Leo Gory (0-1) (for Ó Loughlin, 46 mins), Colm O"Neill (for Stone, 55 mins).Westmeath: Joseph Dugdale; Leonard Gavin, Gary Greville, Liam Varley; Ciaran Crentsil, Thomas Gallagher, Shane Clavin; Emmet Corrigan (0-1), Shane Murtagh; Finbarr Thompson, Robbie Greville (0-7, 0-5 from frees), Luke Loughlin (1-1); Alan Clarke, Kieran Glennon (0-1), Michael Heeney.Subs: Darragh Lyons (for Gavin, 32 mins), Adam O"Keeffe (for Clavin, 37 mins), Conor Mulry (for Clarke, 47 mins), Jamie Anders (for Heeney, 49 mins), Conor Fallon (for Thompson, 57 mins).Referee: David O"Donovan (Dublin).