Battling Westmeath live to fight another day

Westmeath 1-9 Offaly 0-9: Westmeath maintained their Division 3 status for another week at least with this hard-earned three-point victory over Offaly in Cusack Park, Mullingar.

Westmeath had to win to avoid relegation and their hopes were boosted by a 28th minute punched goal by substitute Paul Greville. Greville was only on the pitch eight minutes, having replaced John Heslin (black card) when he fisted a Shane Dempsey pass to the back of the net.

That goal brought Westmeath level at 1-1 to 0-4 after Offaly had started the brighter and led with points from Eoin Carroll, Graham Guilfoyle, Niall McNamee, and Michael Brazil, in response to Kieran Martin who had opened Westmeath’s account in the seventh minute.