Still, the locals had another goal chance in the 44th minute, Pádraic Linehan booked for pulling down Ciarán Doyle just outside the ‘square’. Lorcan McMullan was constantly on the ball as a floating third midfielder Dara Purcell was in free-flowing form from the wing, while the classy Fergal Whiteley endlessly came running sling-shot from angles the Raharney men could never quite read. The Westmeath men did pull Robbie Greville deeper to try to staunch the flow and – for a time – it seemed to have the desired effect, the locals getting to the break just six points adrift at 0-8 to 2-8.īut hopes that were clearly fraying all but snapped within 20 seconds of the resumption when Considine wheeled away from Finn to nail a third goal for the Dublin champions who, thereafter, began to dominate in almost every sector. Prior to those scores, Raharney were more than holding their own, Killian Doyle looking the best player on the pitch having rifled 0-3 from play inside the opening 12 minutes.īoth sides opted for two-man inside attacking lines, meaning a crowded middle third and rucks forming over a sliotar inclined to stick on the winter field.īut this proved far more profitable for the Dublin champions with Hayes pretty much terrorising McKeogh and Considine always having the edge on Raharney number three Darren Finn. It’s fine and dandy being down here playing with Dublin or playing underage stuff down the country, adult hurling in winter is different and you need to prepare accordingly.”ĭublin star Hayes – their saviour in that county final against Na Fianna – was the game-breaker again here with two spectacular goals inside three first-half minutes that thieved whatever hope the Westmeath champions carried into this Leinster club quarter-final.
We finished with eight U-21s against Na Fianna.
“There’s a load of our lads are new to the team this year. So, when we got out of Dublin, we wanted to be ready. We’re used to travelling for friendlies, we’re not used to competitive games. “It’s seven years since we came out (of Dublin), 36 years since we played down the country in Leinster,” reflected the son of former GAA president John. And for Crokes manager Kieran Dowling, it all bore the faint air of a coming of age.