Louth were crowned Allianz Football League Division Three champions following a late flourish in a thrilling league decider.
It looked as if their Croke Park nightmare was about to continue, but Ronan Carroll’s 60th minute goal turned the game in their favour, and they stormed to victory.
Louth were able to expose gaps in the Westmeath defence from the outset, but the best chance they created went abegging, when unmarked Paraic Smith collected Paddy Keenan’s pass but blazed wide.
Brian Donnelly and Liam Shevlin eased the Wee County ahead, and a struggling Westmeath managed just one point in the opening quarter.
However, they were just a point adrift by the 20 minute mark, when Conor Lynam’s second score cancelled out a Ronan Carroll effort.
Louth were by far the more dangerous attacking force, and crafted another goal chance when Andy McDonnell defied the odds to beat Kieran Gavin to a 60-40 ball, laying off to Smith, who was denied by a courageous saving block from Aidan Finn.
While their finishing left plenty to be desired, Louth displayed composure on the ball, and a patient build-up gave Adrian Reid the opportunity to make it 0-5 to 0-2 on 24 minutes
Westmeath produced a flourish, with three points in as many minutes, two of them from Lynam, to go level.
And two Paul Greville scores gave the Midlanders another boost, before Denis Glennon shot them ahead for the first time in stoppage time, 0-7 to 0-6 at the break
And they continued to build impressively after the restart, Lynam and Glennon again finishing with aplomb.
Smith’s attempt to send Derek Maguire in on goal was thwarted by Kieran Gavin’s timely interception, but at the other end, Westmeath were much more clinical in taking their scores, Glennon and Greville again hitting the target.
Andy McDonnell’s spectacular sliced effort and a point from Smith kept the Wee men very much in touch, with Paddy Keenan narrowing the gap to a point.
Keenan and Donnelly raised their game at midfield, and things began to happen for Peter Fitzpatrick’s side.
Both midfielders powered over points, and in the 60th minute, substitute JP Rooney made an inspired intervention. With his first touch, he dribbled through, only to see his shot kept out by Gary Connaughton, but Carroll followed in to poke home the rebound.
Louth never looked back, and finished the job off with scores from Ray Finnegan, Keenan and Maguire.
