Garrycastle 4-11 Longford Slashers 1-6:FRESH FROM achieving a hat-trick of Westmeath senior football titles, Garrycastle showed that they are again serious contenders in Leinster with a comprehensive win in Mullingar yesterday.

Despite playing against the wind in the opening half-hour, Garrycastle were by far the better team.

With former Westmeath captain David O’Shaughnessy ruling the roost at midfield, the home team were dominant throughout the pitch, and a clinical brace of goals from James Dolan in the 24th and 31st minutes helped his side to a fully merited nine-point lead at the interval (2-7 to 0-4).

The Longford men, who looked rusty in the first half after their nine-week wait since their county final, were much improved on the change of ends. They were unfortunate not to score a few goals as they whittled down the winners’ lead but their only three-pointer came from substitute Martin Nevin in the 38th minute.

However, Garrycastle regained control courtesy of a soft goal from a free virtually on the sideline by James Duignan with eight minutes remaining. Alan Daly added another goal five minutes later and the Westmeath men eased their way to a flattering 14-point win.

GARRYCASTLE: C Mullin; M McCallon, J Gaffney, A Fox; K Henson (0-1); D Harte (0-1), E Mulvihill; S O’Donoghue; D O’Shaughnessy (0-2); J Duignan (1-1, 1-0 free), G Dolan, R McGowan; P Mulvihill, J Dolan (2-1), D Dolan (0-3, 0-1 free). Subs: C Cosgrove (0-1) for P Mulvihill (43 mins), T McHugh (0-1) for Fox (48 mins), A Daly (1-0) for G Dolan (53 mins), J O’Shaughnessy for E Mulvihill (54 mins), J McAteer for McGowan (59 mins).

LONGFORD SLASHERS: C Farrell; S Flynn, B Gilleran, G Ghee; P Brady, D Brady, P Kelly; N Mulligan, D Sheridan; B Farrell, C Smith (0-2, 0-1 free), T Glendenning; M Smith (0-3, 0-2 frees), S Phillips, M Tarmey. Subs: M Nevin (1-1) for Tarmey, C Clarke for Flynn (both 28 mins), P Dobson for Phillips (40 mins), R Barrins for Farrell (59 mins), A Murphy for Sheridan (60 mins).

Referee: E Kinsella (Laois).