All-Ireland SHC Relegation Final/Dublin 0-16 Westmeath 0-8: The players on the pitch had their differences in this contentious senior hurling relegation tie at O'Connor Park, Tullamore. Three red cards and a plethora of yellows provided plenty evidence of that.
But, off the pitch, the respective managers Dublin's Tommy Naughton and Séamus Qualter were united in their vehement disapproval of the fixture from which the losers are plummeted into the Christy Ring Cup and denied the chance of competing in the All-Ireland championship for the Liam MacCarthy trophy.
"I'd rather be beaten by 20 points by Kilkenny than win a match by 10 points in the Ring competition," said Westmeath manager, Qualter.
"There are 33 teams in the Sam Maguire. How many of them have a hope in hell of winning the cup?" he asked.
"Antrim, Down and Galway should be brought into Leinster to make it a decent competition.
"I strongly believe that we must be given the chance to play against quality teams in front of good crowds if the interest of hurling is to be considered."
Tommy Naughton does not accept that there is any need for the fixture and cannot see what benefits can emerge from it.
"It is of no benefit to Westmeath now that they are denied the opportunity to play against the best," he said.
Westmeath, winners over Dublin in the championship for the first time since 1982 in atrocious conditions in May, were forced to field with a depleted defence.
Dublin exploited the Westmeath weaknesses from the start and they opened a nine-point lead by half time, 0-11 to 0-2. Those two points for Westmeath came courtesy of frees by Andrew Mitchell.
Even more ominous for the midlanders was the fact that they failed to score from the 17th minute of the first half to the third minute of the second.
Mitchell was Westmeath's most industrious player and highest scorer with five points from frees.
Dublin's David Curtin proved the biggest influence for his side with eight points, five from frees.
To Westmeath's credit, their steely conviction got them back to within six points midway through the second half.
Dublin wisely funnelled back into a defensive role at this stage with only three of their players to be seen in the Westmeath half.
When Dublin were reduced to 14 players by the sending off of John McCaffrey in the 56th minute, they came under greater pressure but centre back Ronan Fallon and midfielder David Sweeney helped steady the ship. Westmeath lost their numerical advantage when midfielder Enda Loughlin was red-carded with 10 minutes remaining.
Before the finish Dublin full back Kevin Ryan was also sent off by Cork referee Diarmuid Kirwan.
DUBLIN: G Maguire; G O'Meara, K Ryan, P Brennan; M Carton (0-1), R Fallon, T Brady; D Sweeney, S McDonnell (0-2); J McCaffrey (0-2), L Ryan, D Curtin (0-8, 5 frees); J Kelly (0-1), K Flynn (0-1), A McCrabbe. Subs: P Carton (0-1) for McCrabbe, B O'Driscoll for McDonnell, M O'Reilly for O'Meara.
WESTMEATH: M Briody; C Jordan, C Murtagh, P Greville; G Gavin, J Shaw, N Gavin; E Loughlin, A Mitchell (0-5 frees); B Smyth, B Murtagh (0-1), P Clarke; D Devine, D Carty, J Clarke. Subs: M McNicholas (0-2) for Smyth, D McNicholas for J Clarke, M Williams for Carty.
Referee: D Kirwan (Cork)
