The Westmeath manager fielded a number of younger, inexperienced players last night.
Joe Fortune is standing over his decision to field a largely inexperienced side in their Walsh Cup meeting with Dublin yesterday.
Westmeath were soundly beaten in Parnell Park on a final scoreline of 2-31 to 1-12.
Fortune's players stayed well in touch in the opening 25 minutes trailing by just two points.
A run of points from Michael Daly, Kevin Regan, and David Williams was to be the highpoint for the Lake County.
The sides were separated at half time by just 5 points.
The early stages of the second half saw Westmeath sink without a trace, conceding a run of scores to Brian and Ronan Hayes, Cian O'Sullivan, Conor Donohoe, and Paul Crummey.
Fortune's assessment of some of the worst play was unforgiving:
Some of the mistakes we made in the second half. . .you wouldn't see at club level
The Westmeath manager tells Midlands 103 Analyst Gerry Buckley as changes were made the game got away from his side: