Monaghan 0-11 Westmeath 1-10

Tomas O'Flatharta's footballers made it a day to remember for Westmeath GAA as they gained promotion to NFL Division 1 with a gutsy win at Clones.

The midlanders overturned a 0-09 to 1-04 half-time deficit, playing the second half without injured captain Dessie Dolan.

Monaghan conceded a 14th-minute goal to Denis Glennon but points from Tommy Freeman, Dermot McArdle, Paul Finlay and Dick Clerkin shot them ahead.

However, the hosts' scoring suddenly dried up and late efforts from Martin Flanagan and John Smyth saw O'Flatharta's men prevail.

Missing out on promotion is a huge disappointment for Monaghan. All-Ireland quarter-finalists last year, the Farney men played some of the best football in this division in recent weeks but they lost their way when it mattered the most.

Seamus McEnaney's men scored only two points in the entire second half today and that frustrating statistic will live with them for a while.

Westmeath did enough to warrant this win however, they had two good ball winners in midfielders David Duffy and Martin Flanagan, who are both well able to take scores too.

Both teams lined out as selected during the week and despite being away from home, Westmeath managed to settle quicker.

Tommy Freeman opened the scoring for Monaghan with a crisply struck free, but successive points from Dessie Dolan and Fergal Wilson (both frees) and Wilson again had the Lake County 0-03 to 0-01 ahead.

Despite playing into the wind, O'Flatharta's side were having the better of the possession with some sharp passing and incisive running from their midfield and half-forwards.

Wilson's second point, popped over in the seventh minute, was the best of the early scores. Duffy began the move and linked with Dolan before the ball was moved on to Wilson, whose shot was always on target.

Paul Finlay, who had been an injury doubt, replied with a free in the 13th minute but seconds later Westmeath were celebrating the game's only goal.

Donal O'Donoghue and Dermot Bannon combined before the latter played in Denis Glennon and the rangy full-forward was able to chip the ball over the advancing Padraig McBennett and into the Monaghan net.

1-03 to 0-02 behind, Monaghan changed tactics with Finlay moved out to centre-field to help Dick Clerkin and Eoin Lennon turn the screw on their opponents.

The move worked as the hosts were back level at 0-07 to 1-04 by the 29th minute. Points were rifled over by McArdle, Freeman, Clerkin and Finlay.

Damien Freeman, the Monaghan captain, then played in Conor McManus for the lead points as the Ulster side began to take control.

In front of a 6,148 attendance, Dolan and Finlay swapped late points as Monaghan took a 0-09 to 1-04 lead into the break.

The quality of football dipped in the second half with promotion obviously weighing on both teams' minds.

Monaghan looked the more likely to get that much-needed win, especially with Dolan limping off at half-time to be replaced by Smyth.

Instead, the visitors seized the game by the scruff of the neck with Finlay and Tommy Freeman's influence on proceedings waning.

Vincent Corey (37 minutes) and Rory Woods (66) were the hosts' only point scorers after the break. Granted, Woods' effort, a sublime shot with the outside of his boot, did level the game briefly at 0-11 to 1-08.

But Westmeath seemed to want it that little bit more. Points from the outstanding Flanagan and Glennon, who notched a brace after 54 and 62 minutes, had them right in the hunt.

And they found an extra gear when it mattered most as Flanagan boomed over an inspirational 68th-minute point off his right and substitute Smyth soon punched the insurance point through the posts.