WESTMEATH 1-16 WEXFORD 0-6
A comfortable victory as the final scoreline suggests, this O'Byrne Cup fixture will be solely remembered in the context of the Westmeath senior footballer's maiden competitive win under the managerial reign of Dessie Dolan.
Fielding a team not too dissimilar to the one which won the Tailteann Cup, Westmeath were always in control of this fixture which was played at the home of the current county champions, The Downs, on Saturday afternoon last.
Fittingly, the sole goal to grace the occasion, was scored by the manager's cousin, James Dolan, a marauding run from the seasoned half back, suitably finished, to raise a first half green flag.
The Lake County were never under any particular periods of pressure over the game's duration, talisman Ronan O'Toole scoring seven points on his return to the intercounty playing fray, while John Heslin, Shane Dempsey, Lorcan Dolan, Senan Baker, Stephen Smith and Matthew Whittaker also scoring for a Westmeath team who thoroughly merited the 13 point victory.
Westmeath's final O'Byrne Cup group encounter with Kildare, due to be played on Wednesday night in Kinnegad was postponed due to inability of the visitors to fulfil the fixture.
Thoughts will now immediately turn towards the opening National Football League Division 3 fixture on Sunday, January 29, when Cavan make the journey to Cusack Park, Mullingar, for a repeat of the Tailteann Cup final, management and players no doubt hoping for a repeat scoreline and a positive start to the quest for promotion.
