Westmeath wear down Donegal
After 22 minutes the Ulster side led 3-9 to 1-8, thanks to two fine goals by Ciaran Mathewson and a great individual goal by Marty Reilly. But Westmeath cut the deficit in the second quarter leaving Donegal leading 3-10 to 1-14 at half-time.
Westmeath were forced to introduce Thomas Doyle and Cathal Scally for the second half to boost their attack, and two goals by Barry O’Mara and one by Killian Murphy, enabled them run out 12-point winners, after Donegal had Dara Grant sent off in the 46th minute.
Scorers for Westmeath: B. O’Mara 2-8 (7fs), K Murphy 1-2, A Clarke 0-5 (3 65s), C Boyle 1-1, S Boylan, K Martin 0-3 each, N Dowdall, T Doyle 0-1 each.
Scorers for Donegal: S McVeigh 0-10 (8fs), C Mathewson 2-0, M Reilly 1-2, B McMenamin, L Henderson, R McDermott 0-1 each.
WESTMEATH: S McGovern; A Fitzsimons, A McGrath, S Fagan; P Dermody, J Gilligan, N Dowdall; A Clarke, A Craig; M Heffernan, C Boyle, K Martin; K Murphy, S Boylan, B O’Mara.
Subs: T Doyle for Craig (ht), C Scally for Heffernan (ht), C Thompson for Fitzsimons (58), C Sleator for McGrath (58), P Laide for Fagan (58).
DONEGAL: P Burns; D Grant, M Lillis, G Quinn; C McDermott, F Culhane, C Flood; R McDermott, S McVeigh; M Reilly, C Mathewson, K Meehan; B McMenamin, S Gillespie, L Henderson.
Subs: C Gallagher for Quinn (37), G Browne for Meehan (47).
Referee: Pat Greene (Galway).
