O'Dwyer: ‘Bring on the Dubs!’

Mick O'Dwyer has got his wish today - his new Wicklow charges will face their biggest test to date when they come up against Dublin in a unique O'Byrne Cup semi-final next Saturday.

"Bring on the Dubs!" was O'Dwyer's call after he watched his side beat Wexford 0-7 to 0-5 in Aughrim yesterday, and Dublin's 2-11 to 0-8 defeat of Westmeath in Mullingar this afternoon has set up a dream match for the Waterville man.

The Leinster champions proved far too strong for Westmeath in front of a Cusack Park crowd of 3,382.

Their dominance was evident as early as the 12th-minute when two Conal Keaney points helped push the Dubs into a 0-4 to no score lead.

David 'Dotsy' O'Callaghan, the pick of Dublin's forwards in the early season, rammed home his fourth goal in three games when he took down Keaney's 19th-minute delivery and beat Gary Connaughton with a rifled finish to the roof of the net.

Backed by the wind, Paul Caffrey's men had built up a 2-8 to 0-2 lead by the break.

For Dublin's second goal, O'Callaghan spotted the run of Derek Murray and the young Round Towers Clondalkin clubman, who started at right half-forward, stretched out a hand to flick the ball past Connaughton and into the empty net.

Alan Mangan was denied a certain goal in injury-time when Dublin 'keeper Stephen Cluxton showed great reflexes to keep his goal intact.

The Westmeath challenge faltered when they had substitute Donal O'Donoghue sent-off for his second bookable offence, 16 minutes into the second half.

Dublin extended their advantage when Dermot Connolly took his tally to 0-3 and wing back Ger Brennan also got forward to score twice.

Westmeath ended the game by firing over four points on the bounce - free-taker Fergal Wilson accounted for half of the Lake county's final tally while Dessie Dolan chipped in with three points.

Interestingly, next weekend's other semi-final will see Pat Roe, the current Offaly boss, come up against his native county Laois.

Offaly had former minor star Ken Casey to thank as he blasted home a goal in either half in their 2-13 to 1-8 victory over DIT at Tullamore's O'Connor Park.

Casey, making his debut at senior level, got his first major in the 13th-minute after a superb move involving Niall McNamee and Neville Coughlan.

Meath man Cian Ward struck back for DIT on 25 minutes when he made full use of some lacklustre defending to bulge the Faithfuls' net.

Roe displayed plenty of confidence in his panel as despite Offaly's interval lead being a slim one at 1-6 to 1-4, the former Wexford manager decided to rest star men McNamee and Ciaran McManus by replacing them for the second half.

A late goal from Casey, who scored 2-2, settled the issue with McNamee also impressing with 0-4. Ward was DIT's top scorer with 1-3.

Meanwhile, Laois hit four of the last five points in a exciting quarter-final in Portarlington to beat Louth 0-13 to 0-12 and make the last-four.

Louth, who had Mark Stanfield dismissed in the second half, had led at half-time and were 0-11 to 0-9 to the good before the hosts bit back.

Meanwhile, Laois hit four of the last five points in a exciting quarter-final in Portarlington to beat Louth 0-13 to 0-12 and make the last-four.

Louth, who had Mark Stanfield dismissed in the second half, had led at half-time and were 0-11 to 0-9 to the good before the hosts bit back.

A McCann Park crowd of close to 3,000 watched Liam Kearns' side win in dramatic style, as they failed to hit full tilt, accumulating 10 second-half wides, but still had the ammunition to see off the Wee men.

Wing forward Stanfield was red carded in the 45th-minute for a poorly-timed tackle and follow-up on Ross Munnelly.

A wind-backed Louth led by 0-6 to 0-5 by the half-time whistle, but Laois were back on terms on by the 41st-minute thanks to Brian McCormack.

Points from Colm Kearney, Darren Clarke, Ray Finnegan and David Reid saw Louth retake the lead. Clarke was in outstanding form, running up a six-point tally.

But with Padraig Clancy and Brendan Quigley turning the screw at midfield, Laois came good in the closing quarter-hour. Colm Parkinson finished as the hosts' top scorer with 0-3 while McCormack notched 0-2.

Results:

O'Byrne Cup Quarter-final:

Laois 0-13 Louth 0-12, Portarlington

Offaly 2-13 DIT 1-8, Tullamore

Westmeath 0-8 Dublin 2-11, Mullingar

O'Byrne Cup Shield First Round:

Longford 2-16 UCD 0-10, Ballymahon

Kildare 3-9 Meath 1-11, Newbridge

Athlone IT v DCU, Athlone IT (postponed).