Hello and welcome to Croke Park. We’re counting down until the 7pm throw-in time when we get our first glimpse at Dublin in 2013 senior football championship action. Westmeath are their opponents for this Leinster SFC quarter-final tie.

It’s a big night for new Dublin manager Jim Gavin. He takes charge of the county senior footballers for the first time in championship after guiding them to the National League title earlier this year.

At U21 level, Gavin came up against Westmeath twice as a manager as they won Leinster championship ties in that grade against them in 2010 and 2012. Here’s the pre-match thoughts of Gavin.

Here’s some of the key questions for tonight’s match in Croke Park.

Team news then. Here’s the Dublin team that is selected to start tonight.

DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton (Parnells); Rory O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes), Jonny Cooper (Na Fianna), Darren Daly (Fingal Ravens); James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams), Ger Brennan (St Vincent’s), Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf); Michael Dara Macauley (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Cian O’Sullivan (Kilmacud Crokes); Paul Flynn (Fingallians), Diarmuid Connolly (St Vincent’s), Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock); Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes), Paddy Andrews (St Brigids), Bernard Brogan (Oliver Plunketts Eoghan Ruaidh).

There are three changes from the side that beat Tyrone in the league final in April. Rory O’Carroll replaces Kevin O’Brien in defence while Ciaran Kilkenny is back from injury to take over in attack from Bryan Cullen.

Also in attack Paul Flynn, who was a late withdrawal through injury before the Tyrone game, comes into the attack for Jason Whelan.

Meanwhile, the side also features four starting championship debutants in full-back Jonny Cooper, left corner-back Darren Daly, left half-back Jack McCaffrey and right corner-forward Paul Mannion.

Cooper, Daly and McCaffrey have all made appearances off the bench for Dublin in championship before.

Johnny Cooper.
Pic: INPHO

Here’s the Westmeath team that is named to start. No changes from the side that defeated Carlow.

WESTMEATH: Gary Connaughton (Tubberclair); Mark McCallion (Garrycastle), Kieran Gavin (Mullingar Shamrocks),  Kevin Maguire (Caulry); Doron Harte (Garrycastle),Paul Sharry (St Loman’s), John Gaffey (Garrycastle); David Duffy (Shandonagh), John Heslin (St Loman’s); Kieran Martin (Maryland), Callum McCormack (Maryland), James Dolan (Garrycastle); Ger Egan (Tyrrellspass), Denis Glennon (Tyrrellspass), Dessie Dolan (Garrycastle).

And here’s the substitute lists for both teams.

DUBLIN

WESTMEATH

It’s nine years since the Westmeath shocked Dublin in the Leinster championship in Croke Park. Dessie Dolan, a survivor for Westmeath from that game along with Gary Connaughton and Denis Glennon, recalled that match this week.

Here’s how Westmeath won out that day.

Westmeath have been busy of late. They contested the Division 2 football league final in April where they lost out to Derry but then bounced back to defeat Carlow in their Leinster championship first round tie last month.

Westmeath’s Kieran Martin.
Pic: INPHO

The Dublin team have just come out on to the Croke Park pitch to start their warm-up.

Off the field there’s been some Dublin GAA news today with former attacking star Jason Sherlock announcing his retirement from GAA. Golfer Shane Lowry was one of those who paid tribute to Sherlock.

And now the Westmeath team have taken to the pitch.

The addition of Paralympic gold medallist Mark Rohan to their back room team has been a major plus for the Westmeath squad this season. Attacker Denis Glennon has been outlining the importance of Rohan this week.

So Kildare have already qualified for the Leinster semi-final on June 30th. Who will join them at that stage – Dublin or Westmeath? Let us know your views in the comments section below.

The referee for tonight’s game is Laois man Eddie Kinsella. Down Ciaran Branagan is the standby referee with Damien Brazil of Offaly the other linesman. Wicklow’s Anthony Nolan is the standby linesman.

Big breaking news is that Westmeath’s Dessie Dolan has been ruled out and will be replaced in attack by Ciaran Curley.

There’s just been a minutes silence in memory of the late Noel Curran, father of former Dublin defensive great Paul. Now the national anthem.

We’re underway in Croke Park.

Dublin 0-1 Westmeath 0-0: 5 mins – Dublin hit the front courtesy of  a Bernard Brogan pointed free.

Dublin nearly break through for a goal when debutant Paul Mannion unleashes a blistering drive but it is superbly blocked by Westmeath’s Gary Connaughton.

Dublin 0-2 Westmeath 0-0: 9 mins – Now Dublin are off the mark from play as Mannion feeds Brogan and he swivels to score a point from play.

Dublin 0-3 Westmeath 0-0: 12 mins – Dublin now gone three points clear and it’s a classy effort from the right wing by Paddy Andrews.

Westmeath have had a couple of scoring opportunities but John Heslin has been off target with two attempts from frees. Will they miss Dessie Dolan’s input up front tonight?

Dublin 0-4 Westmeath 0-0: 13 mins – It’s confident stuff by Dublin so far with Paul Flynn chipping in with their fourth point of the game.

Dublin 0-5 Westmeath 0-0: 15 mins – Cian O’Sullivan stretches Dublin’s lead further with another point.

Dublin 0-6 Westmeath 0-0: 17 mins – This is already looking ominous for Westmeath as Dublin debutant Paul Mannion notches his first point of the game after being fed by Brogan.

Dublin’s Paul Flynn and James Dolan of Westmeath
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Dublin 0-7 Westmeath 0-0: 21 mins – Paddy Andrews fists over Dublin’s seventh point of the game.

Dublin’s lead could have been greater as well but for Bernard Brogan uncharacteristically spurning two good chances for points.

Dublin 0-8 Westmeath 0-0: 22 mins – Diarmuid Connolly hooks over a point for Dublin and already Westmeath look to be in serious trouble.

Dublin 0-8 Westmeath 0-1: 24 mins – Finally Westmeath get off the mark when Denis Glennon avails of Rory O’Carroll slipping to scamper clear on the left wing, cut inside and swing over a point.

Dublin 0-8 Westmeath 0-2: 25 mins – There’s another point for Westmeath as John Heslin converts a free.

Dublin 0-8 Westmeath 0-3: 28 mins – Lovely pointed free from John Heslin for Westmeath as he curls over a shot from near the Hogan Stand.

Dublin 0-8 Westmeath 0-4: 30 mins – Westmeath have certainly steadied their challenge with Heslin sweeping over his third point of the game from a free after Denis Glennon was fouled by the Dublin rearguard.

Dublin 0-9 Westmeath 0-4: 31 mins – Bernard Brogan taps over a pointed free after being fouled himself.

Dublin 0-10 Westmeath 0-4: 32 mins – Dublin are clinical once more with Paddy Andrews on the mark for his third point of the game.

Dublin’s Bernard Brogan and John Heslin of Westmeath
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Dublin 0-12 Westmeath 0-4: 36 mins – Dublin exert their superiority once more with Bernard Brogan from a free and Paul Flynn from play knocking over points.

Half-Time: Dublin 0-12 Westmeath 0-4: That’s it at the break with Dublin leading by eight points in Croke Park.

And we’re back underway for the second-half action in Croke Park.

Dublin 0-12 Westmeath 0-5: 37 mins – A quick early point for Westmeath from John Heslin. It’s from a free again and Westmeath have only notched one point from play so far in this game.

Dublin 0-13 Westmeath 0-5: 39 mins – Jack McCaffrey fires over a classy point from distance for Dublin.

Dublin 0-13 Westmeath 0-6: 41 mins – John Heslin knocks over another pointed free for Westmeath.

Dublin 0-13 Westmeath 0-7: 42 mins – That’s a really good point from Westmeath’s Kieran Martin. He worked extremely hard to make progress in along the right wing, cut in from the left and pop over a shot under pressure.

Dublin 0-14 Westmeath 0-7: 43 mins – Bernard Brogan bangs over his fifth point of the game for Dublin, the latest effort arriving from play.

Dublin 0-15 Westmeath 0-7: 43 mins – Paul Flynn with the latest point for Dublin.

Kevin O’Brien onto Dublin instead of Darren Daly. That’s a senior championship debut for O’Brien.

Three Westmeath substitutions as Denis Corroon replaces Ciaran Curley, Darragh Daly comes in for David Duffy and Damian Dolan is in instead of Doron Harte.

Nicky Devereux is onto the Dublin team for James McCarthy.

Dublin 0-15 Westmeath 0-8: 51 mins – Denis Glennon cuts the gap with a point for Westmeath.

Dean Rock is onto the Dublin team for Paul Mannion.

Dublin 0-16 Westmeath 0-8: 55 mins – Double scores now as Diarmuid Connolly fires over a point for Dublin.

Dublin’s Paddy Andrews and Kieran Gavin of Westmeath
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Dublin 0-17 Westmeath 0-9: 57 mins – Great foraging by Bernard Brogan to create the chance for Ciaran Kilkenny to point. Westmeath respond with a nice score by substitute Denis Corroon.

Denis Bastick is on the Dublin team for Michael Darragh MacAuley.

Dublin 0-18 Westmeath 0-9: 59 mins – Bernard Brogan pops over a free for Dublin after he is fouled himself. This game is petering out now to its inevitable conclusion.

Dublin 0-19 Westmeath 0-9: 61 mins – That’s another point for Brogan as he converts a free after Jack McCaffrey is fouled.

Dublin bring on Cormac Costello for his championship debut as he replaces Bernard Brogan.

Ger Egan is gone off on the Westmeath side with Paul Bannon on to replace him.

A great goal chance for Dublin but Diarmuid Connolly places his effort beyond Gary Connaughton and sees the ball fly across the face of the goal and go wide.

Dublin 0-20 Westmeath 0-9: 65 mins – Substitute Dean Rock gets off the mark for Dublin as he kicks over a free.

Aaron Purcell replaces Mark McCallon in the Westmeath defence.

Dublin’s Jack McCaffrey with Callum McCormack of Westmeath
Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Goal for Dublin from Paddy Andrews!

Dublin 1-20 Westmeath 0-9: 69 mins – That completes the night’s work for Dublin as Paddy Andrews finishes sublimely to the net following good work by Diarmuid Connolly and Dean Rock to create the opening.

Dublin 1-21 Westmeath 0-9: 71 mins – Dean Rock follows that up with a point for Dublin.

Dublin 1-22 Westmeath 0-9: 71 mins – Another Dublin point, this time from Diarmuid Connolly.

Full-Time: Dublin 1-22 Westmeath 0-9: That’s it from Croke Park as Dublin cruise to a 16-point victory.

A comfortable victory for Dublin in their 2013 provincial opener as manager Jim Gavin gets his senior championship reign off to a successful start in this Leinster quarter-final. They now advance to face Kildare at the semi-final stage on June 30th. Thanks for joining us tonight and for all your comments.