Galway score late goal to beat Westmeath

Galway 2-10 Westmeath 0-11

FBD League champions Galway opened their National League campaign in determined fashion by carving out a five-point win over Westmeath in Mullingar.

Michael Meehan grabbed a late goal to secure the Division 1 points on offer for Galway, in front of a 3,000-strong crowd.

The visitors edged the opening quarter-hour, moving 0-04 to 0-03 ahead with Galway's Nicky Joyce and Westmeath ace Dessie Dolan trading early points.

Westmeath lacked a cutting edge in attack and their defence was given a let-off in the 19th minute when Meehan thumped a penalty, awarded for a foul on Joyce, off the crossbar and over for a point.

Points from Cormac Bane, Padraic Joyce and Meehan (free) helped Galway to a 0-07 to 0-05 half-time lead, while Dolan and Thomas McDaniel kept Westmeath in touch.

Galway should have been further ahead as Meehan was guilty of missing another goal-scoring chance late in the half.

On the restart, Meehan quickly took his personal tally to 0-04 from a free but Westmeath roared back with a string of impressive scores from Dolan, the three-point McDaniel and Denis Glennon.

The home side hit four points without reply to move 0-09 to 0-08 ahead and Galway suddenly looked in trouble - they lost midfielder Barry Cullinane to a straight red card for a 53rd-minute incident involving Dolan.

In all, Westmeath had one yellow card to Galway's two but having to play with 14 men seemed to suit Liam Sammon's side and a well-executed goal from Jonathan Ryan got them back on track at 1-08 to 0-09 ahead.

Westmeath rallied as best they could but when Galway created enough space for Meehan in the 70th minute, the Caltra ace coolly slotted home the clinching goal from close range.