A lop-sided day at headquarters. It has been a covert passage, this, for Dublin who return to the glamour stages of the championship without yet revealing anything significant about themselves. On a forlorn old summer's day in the city, Westmeath visited and found out once again that, come July, chasms appear. Dublin steamrolled through them in front of a raucous Hill section and left us with enough to muse over.
After a fragile and cagey opening period, they settled in, quickly and comfortably imposing their stamp to the degree that Westmeath looked withered at half-time. Tom Carr's men can only play whoever matches up against them but the truth is that they have advanced through these early summer tests without ever encountering true questions. Yesterday, they looked good, but against a Westmeath team who were wan and tongue-tied and tamely beaten.
Despite that, Dublin unveiled enough personality to suggest they might splash some colour through the suburbs before the long nights close in. Fine little cameos presented themselves all over the pitch. Jason Sherlock still has the power to seduce around these parts. The home crowd cooed at his every feint and, over the hour, the Na Fianna man didn't disappoint. It was his goal on 20 minutes that permanently severed Westmeath's conviction.
It was typical Sherlock, pure speed of thought and pragmatism. Leaping for a loose ball, Colin Moran was pole-axed around 45 metres down the field. From the free, he spied the full forward darting through a chink of space. Sherlock homed in on Moran's clever diagonal ball, spun in traffic and slithered a shot past Aidan Lennon to leave it at 1-2 to 0-3.
It was Dublin's first lead and they unfussily set about cementing it. That Sherlock has also begun to demonstrate a new-found affinity for points kicking must be particularly reassuring for Dublin. Twice in the second half he froze David Mitchell with a half-step and looped two fine points to give him a game-high return of 1-2. But Sherlock is only as good as the possession he receives and yesterday, Dublin had an abundance.
Jittery and seemingly lost without Ciaran Whelan for the first 15 minutes, Dublin ultimately swamped Westmeath. Brian Stynes' willingness to toil both ends of the park was admirable and the big midfielder seemed involved in the majority of Dublin's sweeping movements.
Paul Curran and Peadar Andrews had ample opportunity to explore attacking options, dominating the break of ball and rarely wasting it. Indeed, Curran has, since the ground began to harden, demonstrated a renewed zest and sharpness that suggests he is within touching distance of the accomplished form which set him apart in the earlier part of the last decade.
Jim Gavin put in a brilliant first 35 minutes, directing the inside trio with astute passing and nailing two fine points while Senan Connell also enjoyed an inventive and assured afternoon. Westmeath were full of bluster early on and shot themselves into a quick lead through a couple of smooth frees by Joe Fallon and Des Dolan. The city team were shaky down the middle during this period and were almost dearly stung on the 11th minute, when Martin Flanagan collected a deep ball from Ger Heavin and fired on the turn. Stynes got a palm to his shot and the ball rattled off the crossbar and Dublin recovered through a Senan Connell point.
While the swiftness of that move promised a trying afternoon for the Dublin back three, the opposite transpired. Paddy Christie was commanding and incisive at full back, marvellous under the high ball, tidying up unceremoniously and he was well supported by Coman Goggins and Shane Ryan. Westmeath's attack just dried up, with Dolan out of sorts and Ger Heavin bottled up by Jonathan McGee. Only Flanagan appeared to have the resources to cause serious damage.
An early spirited burst carried echoes of his wonder-goal against Laois and he was very unfortunate not to find the net again yesterday when his snap-shot skipped over the crossbar after 52 minutes. That left Westmeath 1-11 to 0-6 in arrears and, with Dublin temporarily slacking, they managed to string off a series of points through Derek Heavin and Kenny Lyons which briefly roused the neutral interest. They threatened Dublin's goal once more after 66 minutes, with Flanagan chipping a quick free for Martin Murtagh to race on to. The half back took possession, but his goalmouth pass was deflected by Davy Byrne.
Even had Westmeath breached their opponents then, the game was well up. Dublin had denied the Westmeath forwards a score from play over the first half-hour and began to cruise after the break. Going forward, they attacked with a flow and style which has been all too scarce in this championship. After 45 minutes Paul Curran, on another forward mission, watched Jim Gavin thread a delightful ball for Des Farrell and then took a quick pass from the forward to arc another Dublin point. Two minutes later Moran lobbed another - Gavin again the provider - and the home team, leading by 1-11 to 0-5, were out of sight.
Vinnie Murphy rumbled into view to give the occasion a retro look and from the Hill came the familiar swaggering sounds. But questions remain. Late on, Westmeath pumped a volley of high balls for their forwards to gamble on and, occasionally, the home defence displayed a hint of the fragility that has haunted them in recent times. And, for all the neat attacking play and dominance they enjoyed, there was no real ruthlessness to the show. There was no real suggestion that this team harbours a cold heart. But at least they can float new-found hope. Box office names have fallen like flies yet the Blues are still about.
Dublin are not without flaws, but are not empty of substance either. Next day out, however, will paint a clearer picture. For Westmeath, it was a dismal conclusion to a turbulent, if sometimes rewarding, season. After all the sessions and planning though, the history of this occasion remains the same.
