Meath 1-12 Westmeath 2-08

Westmeath suffered their third straight league defeat as an injury-time point from Stephen Bray steered Meath to victory in Navan.

Joe Sheridan's fourth-minute goal propelled the hosts into an early lead and Meath were 1-08 to 1-02 ahead at half-time, with Westmeath's goal coming from a Paul Bannon penalty.

The visitors closed the gap further and notched an equalising 59th minute goal from Michael Ennis, before two late points from the Bray brothers, David and Stephen, saw Meath finish on top.

Meath's Stephen Bray kicked the match-winning point deep into injury-time as Westmeath suffered another cruel loss at Navan.

Having already lost their opening Allianz NFL Division 2 games to Donegal and Armagh, Westmeath were under pressure to record a positive result, but Meath survived a spirited Westmeath rally to claim the league spoils and derby bragging rights.

Dominant early on, the Royals got off to the perfect start when Joe Sheridan crashed home an opportunistic fourth minute goal following a clever Stephen Bray delivery.

Meath were controlling the contest and further points from Jamie Queeney (two frees) and David Bray saw them move 1-03 to 0-00 ahead after 10 minutes.

But one recurring problem for Meath has been a tendency to go long spells without a score, and that is exactly what happened again as Westmeath found a way back into the game.

Referee Jimmy White awarded the Lake County side a 21st minute penalty when Paul Greville was fouled by Niall McKeigue, and Paul Bannon drilled a crisp shot past goalkeeper David Lyons.

Bannon added a delightful point, just seconds later, but Meath finally summoned a response as they regained the initiative.

Stephen Bray was prominent throughout and the gifted Navan O'Mahony's attacker drilled over two points in quick succession as Meath answered the questions the visitors were posing.

David Bray was similarly effective for the rampant Royals, hitting two more in a row, while Seamus Kenny added another as Meath went in at the break 1-08 to 1-02 ahead.

Westmeath were more competitive after the interval as Greville and Bannon (1-03, 0-02f) reduced the deficit to 1-09 to 1-05 by the end of the third quarter.

Substitute Philip Gilsenan announced his arrival with a point, and then provided the assist for Michael Ennis who thumped home an equalising goal in the 59th minute.

David Bray put Meath back in front, but Ennis, now at centre-forward, hit a brace of points as Westmeath moved ahead during a lively finish.

Again David Bray, who top-scored with 0-05 (0-01f), pointed to level before his brother Stephen curled over a sublime point in stoppage-time to seal the deal.