Ó Ríain red the only blemish on slick Dublin victory

Conal Ó Ríain appeared as confused as many in the crowd when he was picked out by referee Thomas Walsh following a skirmish

Shane Williams of Westmeath in action against Chris Crummey of Dublin during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1B match between Westmeath and Dublin at TEG Cusack Park in Mullingar, Westmeath. Pic: Shauna Clinton,Sportsfile

Allianz Hurling League Division 1B: Dublin 1-22 Westmeath 0-18 

Rookie Conal Ó Ríain fired the crucial goal that provided Dublin with a vital cushion throughout their Division 1B encounter in Mullingar before being controversially sent off.

The Kilmacud Crokes clubman, a Leinster U-20 finalist with the Sky Blues last year, blasted 1-3 on his debut against Antrim at Croke Park last month and his 1-1 this time went a long way towards securing back-to-back wins.

But the young attacker was also shown a straight red card in the 52nd minute, apparently on the advice of a linesman following an off the ball skirmish involving several players, which soured the occasion.

Ó Ríain appeared as confused as many in the crowd when he was picked out by referee Thomas Walsh following a skirmish involving several players and the centre-forward sought clarification from the linesman as he departed the pitch.

There was also an apparent hand injury for captain Chris Crummey who was taken off on the hour mark but aside from that it was all positive for the Dubs.

Diarmuid Ó Dulaing, another U-20 last year, led the scoring with nine points while debutant Kevin Burke, fellow newcomer Brendan Kenny and David Purcell all showed up well in difficult conditions.

Fresh off his 1-3 against Antrim, needed just 10 minutes at TEG Cusack Park to grab his second goal for the Dublin seniors.

Conor Donohoe, recalled to the Dublin lineup, played in O Riain who blasted to the net before adding a point.

Ó Dulaing and greenhorn Burke, the only member of Na Fianna's All-Ireland winning club team to feature, also came into the team.

Ó Dulaing was terrific in both open play and from the frees, sniping 0-5 in the first-half and adding four more points after the break.

Darragh Power and Fergal Whitely were on the mark with first-half points too as Dublin, leading 1-6 to 0-4, hinted at a rout.

But they were suddenly reeled right back in by a determined Westmeath side keen to make up for their opening round defeat to Antrim.

Seoirse Bulfin's side reeled off six points in a row, three from UCD's Fitzgibbon Cup attacker David Williams, between the 16th and 22nd minutes.

That tied the game up at 1-6 to 0-9 but Dublin hit the afterburners again with a great O Dulaing point from play in particular to lead 1-12 to 0-12 at the interval.

Dublin struck seven wides in the first 20 minutes of the second-half and with O Riain dismissed in the 52nd minute, opportunity knocked for Westmeath.

But even with Williams excelling, finishing with 0-10 for Westmeath, Dublin were always at least three points clear and debutant Kenny stretched it to four moments after his introduction, 1-17 to 0-16.

There was no miracle comeback for Westmeath after that despite the extra man and late Dublin scores from Purcell, Whitely and a Daire Gray beauty sealed the slightly flattering seven-point win.

Dublin scorers: D O Dulaing 0-9 (6 frees); C O Riain 1-1; F Whitely 0-3; D Power, David Purcell 0-2 each; Dara Purcell, C Donohoe, J Hetherton, B Kenny, D Gray 0-1 each.

Westmeath scorers: D Williams 0-10 (4 frees, 1 65); E Cunneen 0-3 (1 s/l); D McCormack, P Clarke, M Cunningham, G Greville, D O'Reilly 0-1 ecah.

DUBLIN: E Gibbons; P Smyth, J Bellew, D Lucey; K Burke, C Crummey, D Gray; C Burke, D Power; C O Riain, D Purcell, C Donohoe; D O Dulaing, J Hetherton, F Whitely.

Subs: David Purcell for Hetherton (31); B Hayes for Power (47); B Kenny for Darragh Purcell (59); P Dunleavy for Crummey (60); C Foley for Kenny (67).

WESTMEATH: J Gillen; C Gaffney, T Doyle, G Greville; J Bermingham, A Craig, E Keyes; P Clarke, S Williams; R Greville, D McCormack, M Cunningham; D Williams, N Mitchell, E Cuneen.

Subs: R Keyes for R Greville (6); D O'Reilly for Mitchell (47); J Boyle for S Williams (49); D Glennon for Keyes (60); N O'Brien for Cunneen (63); A Ennis for Doyle (67-f/t, blood).

Ref: T Walsh (Waterford).