Westmeath stun Dublin in extra-time to claim second ever Leinster title

Westmeath let a four-point lead slip in normal time but were irresistible in extra-time. They had 13 different scorers across the 90 minutes. 

Jack Duncan's last-gasp goal was a cherry on top of Westmeath's cake as they beat Dublin in the Leinster SFC final. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

Leinster SFC final: Westmeath 2-28 Dublin 0-26 (after extra-time)

Westmeath are Leinster SFC champions for just the second time in the county's history, powering past Dublin in extra time to secure a historic Croke Park win.

With 13 different scorers across 90 action-packed minutes, it was the ultimate team performance from a team of underdogs that have been expertly assembled and choreographed by Mark McHugh.

The fear for Westmeath was that they may have missed their big chance of replicating their 2004 provincial triumph when they let a four-point lead with 11 minutes of normal time remaining slip away.

In fact, it took a Senan Baker point in the 69th minute just to force the additional 20 minutes and to keep their title hopes alive.

But there was only team in it after that as Westmeath struck the first 1-4 of extra-time to all but secure the landmark success.

Brian Cooney scored the goal that broke Dublin, a two-point attempt that looped in over the Dublin goalkeeper's head, summing up a dismal afternoon for the Dubs.

It got even better for Westmeath who added a second goal right at the end of extra time when Jack Duncan pounced on a shot that cannoned off an upright and returned it to the net with interest.

John Heslin made a memorable comeback during the famous victory, coming out of retirement and shooting three points including a valuable two-pointer in extra time.

Where Westmeath go from here is anyone's guess but they will enter the All-Ireland series with confidence and will take on Cavan in a fortnight in Round 1. All is not lost for Dublin either as they will have home advantage for a Round 1 clash with Louth on the same weekend.

Dublin goalkeeper Evan Comerford misjudged a Brian Cooney shot during the first half of extra-time, giving Westmeath a crucial goal. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Cormac Costello top scored for them again with eight points but with no Con O'Callaghan, Colm Basquel or Eoin Murchan, as well as suspended manager Ger Brennan, it was all too much for the once mighty Sky Blues.

Much, much earlier, Dublin were two points up at the break in normal time and were decent value for their lead at that stage.

In an open, attacking encounter, they carved out no less than four decent goal opportunities in the opening half alone.

Eoin Kennedy fired an early point just over and Seán Bugler, after an indifferent start, came alive with a fisted point though Kennedy was unmarked on his left if he'd fancied it.

Brian Howard was picked out by Niall Scully with a clever kick pass but blasted his shot wide in the 7th minute and, five minutes later, Kennedy failed to find Costello with a hand pass when a goal was on again.

Throw in three Dublin wides and two point attempts that dropped short - Bugler kicked two of the wides and one of the shorts - and you can understand why Dublin weren't flattered to lead 0-11 to 0-9 at the interval.

They reeled off five points in a row between the 18th and 25th minutes with Costello and Scully pinching two points apiece.

Shane Allen's two-pointer for Westmeath in the 26th minute was a big score at that stage, stopping the rot of Dublin scores and hauling them back within two points, 0-8 to 0-6.

And Westmeath had their goal chances too with Brandon Kelly firing just over early on and Shane Corcoran drawing a fine save from Evan Comerford in the 32nd minute.

By that stage, Dublin had suffered a key loss with the withdrawal through injury of Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne who had been having a strong game at midfield. He was replaced by Luke Breathnach, necessitating a number of switches as Breathnach played in the inside forward line and both Ciarán Kilkenny and Killian McGinnis dropped back a line.

Still, Dublin were in a strong position and when they restarted with three points in a row, from Breathnach and Costello, they had a commanding 0-14 to 0-9 lead.

From there, it was entirely downhill for Dublin for the next 15 minutes as Westmeath found a second wind and whipped up a storm.

It was stirring stuff from a side written off beforehand by pretty much all of the pundits and commentators.

They outscored Dublin by 0-12 to 0-3 in this period with substitute Senan Baker scoring four points and setting up another for Kelly.

Whittaker knocked over a two-pointer before going off, presumably with the lower leg injury that he battled ahead of the game.

But they brought on another talisman in John Heslin, his first activity for Westmeath since retiring ahead of the 2025 season.

Westmeath led 0-21 to 0-18 when Heslin came on and his first touch was an assured one, claiming a kick-out mark at midfield.

But he should have clipped over a point later on and it was costly as Dublin dug remarkably deep with five points on the trot to initially take the lead before Baker sent the game to extra time with a 69th minute equaliser, 0-22 to 0-22.

Westmeath's conditioning and fitness has been a feature of their campaign and they lorded it over Dublin in extra time.

They held the 2023 All-Ireland champions scoreless until the 82nd minute and reeled off 1-4 to lead 1-26 to 0-22 at half time of extra time.

Wallace, Heslin, Sam McCartan and Heslin pinched the points before Cooney, trying for a two-pointer, hit the jackpot when the ball dropped in over Evan Comerford's head to the net.

Duncan wrapped it up with another fortuitous Westmeath goal at the death, Adam Treanor's point attempt hitting the post and falling down kindly to him.

Westmeath scorers: Jack Duncan 1-1, Brandon Kelly 0-4, Matthew Whittaker 0-4 (1 tp), Senan Baker 0-4, Brían Cooney 1-0, Ronan Wallace 0-3, John Heslin 0-3 (1 tp, 0-1f), Kevin O'Sullivan 0-2, Shane Allen 0-2 (tp), Sam McCartan 0-2, Shane Corcoran 0-1, Conor Dillon 0-1, Robbie Forde 0-1.

Dublin scorers: Cormac Costello 0-8 (0-4f, 1 tpf), Ciarán Kilkenny 0-3, Niall Scully 0-2, Paddy Small 0-2, David Byrne 0-2, Seán Bugler 0-2, Seán Guiden 0-2 (tp), Greg McEneaney 0-2, Eoin Kennedy 0-1, Luke Breathnach 0-1, Brian Howard 0-1.

WESTMEATH: Jason Daly; Conor Dillon, Charlie Drumm, Daniel Scahill; Tadhg Baker, Shane Allen, Ronan Wallace; Brían Cooney, Ray Connellan; Kevin O'Sullivan, Sam McCartan, Matthew Whittaker; Shane Corcoran, Jack Duncan, Brandon Kelly.

Subs: Adam Treanor for Scahill 18, Robbie Forde for Duncan h/t, Senan Baker for Corcoran 43, Shane Ormsby for Whittaker 59, John Heslin for Dillon 61. Corcoran for Kelly e/t, Duncan for Allen h/t, Eoghan McCabe for Connellan 83, Ian Martin for Tadhg Baker 84, Tom Molloy for Cooney 86.

DUBLIN: Evan Comerford; Theo Clancy, Nathan Doran, David Byrne; Seán MacMahon, Charlie McMorrow, Eoin Kennedy; Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Brian Howard; Seán Bugler, Niall Scully, Ciarán Kilkenny; Paddy Small, Killian McGinnis, Cormac Costello.

Subs: Luke Breathnach for Ó Cofaigh Byrne 16, Liam Smith for Clancy 59, Seán Guiden for Breathnach 61, Greg McEneaney for Kennedy 65. Cian Murphy for McMorrow 75, Cian O'Connor for Scully 78, Ethan Dunne for MacMahon 85.

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).