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N.Y. GAA Leavy helps Westput to fast start in junior ‘A’

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

By Mike FitzpatrickWestput 2-10, Dublin 1-6

Westput clearly set out to put last year’s disappointing playoff loss to Mayo behind them with this convincing junior football "A" win at Gaelic Park on Sunday. The Dublin side, sorely missing last year’s top scorer, Colm Wilson, were soundly beaten in a contest they, at times, had threatened to win. The Dubs opened strongly, with half forward Damian Powderley becoming the first name on the scoresheet with a nicely taken point. This was swiftly followed by a brace of points from fellow half forward Padraig Broderick to give the Dubs a three-point lead.

It was to be their last lead, however, as Westput’s Danny Leavy playing some great football for his side, scored a point, and was shortly after joined on the scoresheet by Kevin McManus, who fired in a goal, thus giving his side a lead which they were never to let go of throughout the tie. Phil Connolly matched his teammates’ effort with Westput’s second goal shortly after, following some good work by the on-form Mike Deere, playing his first of two games that afternoon. Deere got on the scoresheet himself with a point before half time, as did Jimmy Burke, to give his side a cushion going into the interval. Fergal Mulvaney hit a point for the Dubs, to bring his sides tally to four points, but the five-point Westput advantage was to prove unassailable.

McManus and Phil Connolly furthered the Gaels’ lead after the break with a point each, and Keril Hynes took full advantage of a poor Dublin kick-out to steal the ball and shoot over for another score. Dublin stepped up a gear for Broderick to hit his third of the afternoon, and this was followed by a clever piece of play from the Dubs Ian Mullett, who swiped the ball from the hands of Westput goalkeeper Tommy Feighery, and nipped in behind to give his side a goal and, with it, a brief hope of a Dublin comeback.

Eamonn Cullen hit Dublin’s last point of the afternoon, but it was to be far too little, much too late, as Westput Gaels climbed into the pole position and stormed further ahead with points from Leavy, Burke and another from Mike Deere, who proved the point that he is one of New York’s more obviously talented dual players, having been an integral part of last year’s triumphant Limerick hurling side.

Westput opened their season on a strong footing, gathering vital points in a division that only includes seven teams, Dublin will look to their next game to stage a comeback and hopefully challenge for honors this year. Colm Wilson’s departure must not be mourned over any longer, his scoring legacy must be replaced by another Dublin talent if they are to sustain a decent run this year.

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Westput Gaels: Tommy Feighery, Neil McMahon, Sean Burke, Mike Burke, Mike Deere (0-2), Mike Conway, John Larkin, Phil Connolly (1-1), Jimmy Burke (0-2), Pete Brennan, Danny Leavy (0-3), Sean Brennan, Kevin McManus (1-1), Keril Hynes (0-1), Shane Murtagh. Subs John Higgins, Finbarr Craughwell.

Dublin: Ronan Dolan, Dermot Rice, Paddy Murphy, Mick Cusack, Richie Hogan, John Kiernan, Niall Rice, Damian Hallassy, Padraig Broderick (0-3), Damian Powderley (0-1), Eamonn Cullen (0-1), Fergal Mulvaney (0-1), Shane Nugent, Ian Mullett (1-0), Mark Tyrrell. Subs: Brian Hughes, Naoise Boyle, Danny McGilloway.

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