Westmeath 0-15 Dublin 0-10: STRANGE HOW a game that should have been all about the result was actually all about the performance. Winning the Division Two title may still be something to tell the grandkids, but in Páirc Tailteann on Saturday, victory on the night was always secondary to style and substance.

So for Westmeath the more tangible reward was this slick dress-rehearsal for their opening in the Leinster championship against Longford in two weeks' time. They were stunned in that same fixture a year ago, and now look as ready as they could be to make amends.

For Dublin, who were without nine suspended players, the motivation was a little different. Their first championship date is six weeks away, and this was more about testing the strength and character of the panel. As the scoreline suggests, that's suddenly looking a little fragile.

Considering Dublin scored only once in the last 30 minutes, a free by Mark Vaughan, this may qualify as a mini crisis, at least of their confidence. That might explain why Paul Caffrey expressed a simple "no comment" afterwards, which more often than not translates as "nothing good to say anyway".

While as a contest it never hit full-throttle, when it came to basic competitive instincts, only Westmeath's rose. The sides were level on 45 minutes, but from then to the end, it was quite obvious who wanted to win this more. Perhaps Dublin weren't bothered, but that's a risky attitude to be displaying at this time of year.

Westmeath's second-half performance was particularly satisfying for manager Tomás Ó Flatharta: "Pleasing yeah, but not just today," he said, "but again over the eight games we played in the league. They've been fairly consistent throughout. Our priority was always Longford in two weeks' time, but when you're in a competitive match like that, you want to win. It was the performance we were really after, and I felt they worked very hard for each other, showed great spirit."

It was undoubtedly a fine team performance, with the Westmeath defence particularly consistent over the 70 minutes, led by the old hands of Damien Healy, John Keane and Michael Ennis. The shaven-headed midfield pairing of Martin Flanagan and Donal O'Donoghue become more dominant as the game progressed, and while Shane Ryan cleared up plenty of ball for Dublin, they were generally cleaned out in the area.

Up front too Westmeath were the more impressive, and none more than newcomer Dermot Bannon. Dennis Glennon played most of the game with a lower back injury but still made a telling contribution, and the trademark doggedness of Fergal Wilson and Alan Mangan resulted in crucial scores.

"Dublin are still in the top two or three teams in the country," said Glennon. "But we're not happy with win, as much as the performance. Every one of the lads played a part, and that's the most important thing. It's the team performance that's getting us through the whole time."

Dessie Dolan came in at the end for some match practice, and Westmeath can take great confidence from this game, not just in terms of Sunday week, but for their entire Leinster championship.

For Dublin, it's not quite back to the drawing board, but certainly back to the motivational room. They started well and were up 0-7 to 0-6 at half-time, with Jason Sherlock hitting two fine points, and Conal Keaney unlucky not to get a goal on 19 minutes, when his fisted effort thundered off the crossbar.

Sherlock went off injured just before half-time, and somehow that signalled Dublin's decline. Ray Cosgrove was given his chance, but he probably would have been better off staying on the bench such was his limited contribution. He fluffed simple passes and was taken off after some 20 minutes, and it will be something of a miracle if he appears in a Dublin jersey again.

Three other replacements didn't do too much better, with the possible exception of Eoghan O'Gara, who at least forced a fine save from Gary Connaughton with five minutes remaining.

Vaughan missed a couple of simple frees which further hit their confidence, and there was little leadership on the Dublin team in the last 15 minutes, just when they needed it most. Kevin Bonner, Conal Keaney and John O'Brien drifted out of the game.

Three points in the last three minutes possibly flattered Westmeath, but when Glennon hit his second, easing past Barry Cahill, there was no doubt they were deserving of their victory.

With Flanagan turning back the clock at midfield, and Dolan set to be back to his best for the championship, there is more to come from Westmeath.

WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; F Boyle, K Gavin, J Keane; M Ennis (0-1), D Heavin, D Healy; M Flanagan (0-2, one free), D O'Donoghue; F Wilson (0-4, three frees), J Smyth (0-1), D Harte; A Mangan (0-2), D Glennon (0-2, one free), D Bannon (0-3). Sub: D Dolan for Mangan (63 mins).

DUBLIN: S Cluxton, D Henry, B Cahill, P Casey; C Moran, B Cullen (0-1), G Brennan; D Magee, S Ryan; K Bonner (0-1), J Sherlock (0-2), B McManamon (0-1); J O'Brien (0-2), C Keaney (0-1, a free), M Vaughan (0-2, both frees). Subs: R Cosgrove for Sherlock (31 mins, inj), T Diamond for Cosgrove (53 mins), E O'Gara for McManamon (55 mins), D Murray for Bonner (65 mins).

Referee: R Hickey (Clare).