Dublin 4-16
Westmeath 0-8

Dublin made it two wins from two starts when defeating Westmeath in the Gerry Reilly Memorial U16 Football Tournament in Oldcastle on Saturday evening.

Westmeath started the better and led 0-3 (Cathal Mannion (f), Dylan Carroll (f) & Sean Pettit 0 to 0-1 (Jeff Rafter) after just eight minutes of play. A Ciarán Dowling goal awoke Dublin after he carried the ball through the middle of the Westmeath defence and placed his finish low to the corner of the net. Another Dylan Carroll pointed free with 20 minutes played had the sides level 1-1 to 0-4.
Dublin's midfielders Seán Gibbons and Aaron Bradshaw were on top and Dublin dominated the close of the opening half when scoring 1-5 without reply.

Full-forward Michael Courtney (2), centre-forward Dowling (2) and Eric Rowan slotted the points while Courtney delivered the goal following good play from the influential Jeff Rafter

H/T: Dublin 2-6 Westmeath 0-4

On the restart points from Rafter, half-time sub Conor Lennon, Cormac Howley and Courtney extended Dublin's lead to 2-10 to 0-4 after 38 minutes.

Then Westmeath enjoyed their best period since the start of the game and fought back with three pointed frees.
Westmeath had the Dublin defence under considerable pressure but solid displays from Rob Shaw, Darragh McKenna and James Holland settled Dublin.

A Lennon point showing broke Westmeath's momentum before 'Man of match' Aaron Bradshaw pushed the Dubs 2-12 to 0-7 clear. Another pointed free from the boot of Cathal Mannion turned out to be Westmesth's final score.

With just inside ten minutes remaining Bradshaw scored an excellent goal. The Ballinteer St John's man initiated the move from midfield and after good interplay sent his shot to the roof of net from 20 metres to make it 3-12 to 0-8.

Points from Rafter, second half sub Mark Donnelly following good play by Howley and a Donnelly goal ensured Dublin's 20-point win.

Scorers - Dublin: Michael Courtney 1-3, Ciarán Dowling 1-2, Mark Donnelly 1-2, Aaron Bradshaw 1-1, Jeff Rafter 0-3, Conor Lennon, Cormac Howley 0-2, Eric Rowan 0-1.
Scorers - Westmeath: Cathal Mannion (0-4 (3f)), Dylan Carroll (0-3 (2f)), Sean Pettit (0-1)

Dublin: Evan Comerford (Ballymun Kickhams), Malachy Tighe (St Brigid's), Rob Shaw (Castleknock), Darragh McKenna (St Brigid's), Aaron Carey (St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh), James Holland (Ballyboden St Enda's), Dan O'Brien (Kilmacud Crokes), Aaron Bradshaw (Ballinteer St John's), Seán Gibbons (Castleknock), Cormac Howley (Round Tower, Lusk), Ciarán Dowling (Lucan Sarsfields), Jeff Rafter (Na Fianna), Tom Downes (O'Dwyer's), Michael Courtney (St Brigid's), Eric Rowan (Thomas Davis)
Subs: Conor Lennon (St Finian's, Swords) for Rowan (ht), Hugh Keller (Ballyboden St Enda's) for Carey (38), Mark Donnelly (St Brigid's) for Downes (42), Tom Keane (Nh Olaf) for Dowling (47), Ciarán Smith (Lucan Sarsfields) for Tighe (48), David Maloney (St Sylvester's) for O'Brien (50)

Westmeath: Matthew Rowden (St.Marys Rochf'bridge), Plunkett Maxwell (Rosemount), Robert Cleary (Milltownpass), Ruairí Aspell (Shannon Gaels), Jake Fannin (Moate All Whites), Jamie Rooney (St.Marys Rochfortbridge), Maitiu Scully (Shandonagh), Colm Heffernan (Kilbeggan/St.Josephs), Adam Loughlin (The Downs), Ryan Norris (Shandonagh), Eoin Nally (Ballynacargy), Dáire Hynes (Millmore Gaels), Cathal Mannion (Garrycastle), Sean Pettit (Moate All Whites), Dylan Carroll (The Downs)
Subs: Ben Tobin, Sean Loughlin, Daniel Reid (Athlone), Sean McGrane (Shannon Gaels), Troy Maher (Ballynacargy), Emmet Nally (Caulry), Sean Lyster (St.Marys Rochfortbridge), Eoghan Gallagher (Milltownpass), Evan Gorman (Milltownpass), James Murphy (St.Malachys/Ballinagore), Conor McCrosson (Shandonagh), Tom Molloy (Shandonagh)

Ref: Colm McManus (Meath) Tweet

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