Dolan's class stands out from the pack

The Leinster game tonight between Offaly and Westmeath probably says everything about the state of the game in the province.
The first half was dreadful, error ridden and the some of the shooting was simply awful.
Westmeath have been criticised too of late for playing the 'Ulster' way.
That's about the fact tht they bring players back behind the ball in a effort to deny their opponents' space.
I have to laugh at the purists getting on their high horse about this type of football.
To me it's very simple, when you lose the ball you work hard to get it back again making it as difficult as possible for the opposition to score against you.
If this type of tactic was simply negative then I would be among the first to condemn it.
However, the best sides in Ulster, and now also Kerry and others, also know that by dropping players back that there are more opportunities for good half backs to break forward and for clever players like McGuigan, Dooher, Galvin and Brosnan to carry the ball forward.
The so-called Ulster style only works too when you have good forwards who can do the business.
Tyrone had Canavan, O'Neill and Mulligan up front while Armagh had Clarke, McDonnell and Marsden. As for the Kingdom Donaghy, the Gooch, Mike Frank and a choice of two to three others was also very tasty.
There is no substitute for class no matter how hard or how ugly you work and tonight Westmeath's Dessie Dolan stood out from the pack.
He took three points from play in the second half which were out of the top drawer helping his side draw away from Offaly at a crucial stage of the game.
Westmeath are an honest, hard working team which play to their strengths.
They are lacking in class however apart from Dolan but their high energy game will make them hard to beat.
They would probably relish the challenge of playing the Dubs in the semis as a match against the Metropolitans is always a big occasion.
Although the city side will be favourites to win tomorrow Louth will fancy their chances of putting it up to a weakened Dublin team.
If Louth can come through Westmeath would fancy their chances of a second Leinster title.