Hi °C | Lo °C
Antrim struggled to put away 13-man Westmeath before winning by a four-point margin in a poor match at Cusack Park, Mullingar.
Antrim's first goal came midway through the first half when Conor Carson got a touch to a Karl Stewart free and deflected the ball to the net.
The same player poked the ball home in the 27th minute. A minute before half-time, Westmeath's Alan Devine found the net from point-blank range to leave the sides level, 2-2 to 1-5, at the break.
Dan Carty's well-taken goal in the 62nd minute edged Westmeath ahead. The teams were level at 2-9 apiece when Brendan Murtagh was dismissed on a second yellow card and Brian Smyth soon joined his colleague in the dug-out, this time on a straight red.
The numerical advantage proved too much for Westmeath and the visitors pulled away.
Man of the Match: Neil McManus (Antrim)
Scorers -- Antrim: N McManus 0-7 (4f), C Carson 2-0, K Stewart 0-3, S McNaughton 0-2, J Black 0-1. Westmeath: D Carty 1-4 (4 f), A Mitchell 0-4 (3 f, 1 '65'), A Devine 1-0, A Price 0-1.
Antrim -- S Hawes 6; K McGourty 6, S Shannon 6, K Molloy 6; A Graffin 6, M Herron 7, J McCouaig 6; S McCrory 6, S McNaughton 8; N McManus 8, K Stewart 8, M Armstrong 5; D Hamill 5, C Carson 7, B Fall 5. Subs: J Black 6 for Armstrong, (h-t), C McGuiness 6 for Fall (50), P Shiels 6 for Hamill (50).
Westmeath -- P Burke 5; E Price 7, D McCormack 6, A McGrath 7; J Shaw 5, A Mitchell 7, P Gilsenan 6; J Clarke 5, N Flanagan 5; C Curley 5, B Smyth 6, N Dowdall 6; A Devine 7, B Murtagh 6, D Carty 7. Subs: A Price 7 for Curley (h-t), C Scally 6 for Burke (56), C.Mackey n/r for Dowdall (69).
Ref -- D O'Driscoll (Limerick).
