Declan Browne hit five points from play but crucially missed a 36th-minute penalty as Westmeath made it two wins out of two in NFL Division 2B, beating Tipperary 0-12 to 0-09 in Thurles.
Westmeath stopper Gary Connaughton palmed away Browne's spot kick, just seconds into the second half, after a John Keane foul on Tipp centre-back Robbie Costigan.
Dessie Dolan hit 0-04 (3f) in the first half to help Westmeath into a 0-08 to 0-06 lead at the interval. Two-time All-Star Browne had struck over two great points on 30 and 32 minutes with his left foot to close up the difference.
The Moyle Rovers forward then turned villain when his penalty was saved. The resultant 45 was also skewed wide by Tipp centre forward Benny Hickey.
Two minutes later, Tipp 'keeper Paul Fitzgerald reacted well to deny Dolan a goal, but the latter pointed an immediate 45 to push the visitors three points in front.
Tipp managed to pare back the difference to a single point by the 65th-minute, thanks to two points from Browne and an Eamonn Hanrahan over. Seamus McCarthy's men should really have been in front by then - three minutes earlier, Brian Mulvihill, with an open goal at his mercy, drew his shot wide from 10 yards out.
Westmeath assuredly regained their grip on proceedings as Tipp ended the game with 14 men - wing forward Niall Fitzgerald was sent off on 68 minutes for his second yellow card, awarded for arguing with referee Syl Dolan. By that stage, Westmeath captain Dolan had rammed over his fourth free and sixth point of the afternoon. Wing back Graham Dillon's point in injury-time confirmed the win.
Tipp boss McCarthy said afterwards: "We lost too many 50/50 balls. We had the clear-cut chances to win it, but you have to hand it to Westmeath, they're a class team and were Leinster champions 18 months ago.
"To have run them close shows you how well we're going in our development."
Tipperary: Paul Fitzgerald; Peter King, Niall Kelly, Andrew Morrissey; Michael Phelan (capt), Robbie Costigan, Cian Maher; Eamonn Hanrahan, George Hannigan; Aidan Fitzgerald, Benny Hickey, Niall Fitzgerald; Brian Mulvihill, Declan Browne, Damian O’Brien.
Subs used: Mark Peters for Phelan (3-6 mins), Peters for Aidan Fitzgerald (40), Brian Lacey for Benny Hickey (51), Stephen Murphy for Peter King (57).
Westmeath: Gary Connaughton; James Davitt, John Keane, Michael Ennis; Daniel McDermott, Damien Healy, Graham Dillon; David Duffy, Rory O’Connell; James Nugent, Denis Glennon, Paul Bannon; Alan Mangan, PJ Ward, Des Dolan (capt).
Subs used: Gary Dolan for Nugent (39 mins), David Glennon for Denis Glennon (50), David O’Shaughnessy for Bannon (65).
Referee: Syl Dolan (Wexford)
