It always begins with these great hopes and these small affairs, an O'Byrne Cup game somewhere, a few trials, a challenge, all the rite of winter that will soon dissolve to urgent spring.
Tommy Lyons had his first day at the office yesterday. In his job as new broom for Dublin football he came to Mullingar saw his team conquered 2-8 to 1-10 and went away thinking positive thoughts.
One positive was that Dublin don't have to face Westmeath in next summer's championship draw. Even shorn of their cutting edge and just stretching their limbs in the dog days of winter, the home side looked like a football explosion waiting to happen.
That Dublin lost by just a point is a testament to their enthusiasm and bottle in times when the game looked like getting away from them altogether.
Westmeath, though, just shifted up and down through the gears all afternoon examining where the power was and what their force could be. "I thought we competed awful well," said Tommy Lyons afterwards. "Westmeath looked a classy football team, we didn't look it at times but when it was really put up I thought we really went for the game and a little lack of experience by a few fellas, young lads, maybe cost us. I saw a future inter-county footballer in the right half back anyway. I'm happy with that."
To single out young Barry Cahill for praise was just reward for a fine performance from the St Brigid's player. Cahill looks stringy and lean and a complete natural on the ball and in a defence which was at times jumpy he was assured throughout. Furthermore, he was the first to show signs that Dublin half-back play may at last be recovering from the impact of Kevin Moran all those years ago.
Cahill played the ball crisp and early without any of the solo running extras which have been the trademarks of subsequent practitioners. Less fortunate was Barry's cousin Martin Cahill who was audibly the first chastisement victim of the new era. "In front, in front, in front," Lyons could be heard roaring as early as 10 minutes at the corner back. Before half an hour had gone he had called Cahill ashore. Asked about it later Lyons was firm, almost blunt.
"Martin Cahill did a night shift last night (he works as a garda) I discovered that when he was on the pitch. You can't work all night and play football next afternoon. He's a far better footballer than he showed there."
Glimpses then of what to expect from the new dispensation. Positivity, decisiveness and confidence. They'll need it.
Over the past few years, the order in Leinster has changed. Nobody fears Dublin anymore and teams like Westmeath, Laois and Offaly fancy their chances almost as much as Meath or Kildare do on summer afternoons.
Yesterday, Westmeath were an imitation of their summer selves but they moved with a confidence they gleaned on that adventure.
At midfield, Rory O'Connell continues to impress and various other parts of the machine showed themselves to good effect through a sprightly 70 minutes of football.
WESTMEATH: C Mullin; J Davitt, D Mitchell, F Murray; D Healy (0-1), K McKinley, D Murphy; R O'Connell, P Conway; D Gavin (0-1), T Cleary, B Morley; J Fallon (1-2), M Flanagan (1-1), JP Casey (0-3). Subs: A Mangan for Gavin (55 mins); R Browne for Conway (60); B Murphy for Davitt (65); D Kilmartin for F Murray (70).
DUBLIN: D Byrne; M Cahill, M Breathnach, M Fitzpatrick; B Cahill, P Andrews, P Casey; K Darcy, D Homan; E Crennan (0-1), J McNally (1-5 pen and four frees), T Doyle; C Moran (0-3), E Sheehy, L ╙g ╙ hEineachain (0-1). Subs: D Henry for Cahill (21); T Quinn for Doyle (half-time); W Curtis for Sheehy (55); C Murphy for Homan (68); A Brogan for Crennan (69).
Referee: M Monahan (Kildare)
