The only game in Group 3 on the opening night of the Leinster under-20 football championship saw defending champions Kildare beaten by Westmeath by 2-10 to 0-10 at Hawkfield.
Shane Farrell kicked two early scores as the Lillies raced into a four-point lead, which had been trimmed to two by half time.
The game turned shortly after the restart as Brian Cooney punched a dropping Senan Baker effort to the net. Kildare wouldn't get closer than two points in the remaining 18 minutes with Matthew Whittaker's late goal sealing an impressive start for the Lake County.
Next up they'll host Wexford on Tuesday.
At Baltinglass Dublin were holding on slightly in the end but they emerged victorious in their Group 2 opener against Wicklow on a 1-14 to 3-06 scoreline.
Tommy Keogh landed the opening score for the hosts, but the Dubs then hit 1-04 unanswered to take a grip on the contest - Dan O'Leary scoring their goal.
The gap was five at the break - 1-06 to 0-04 - and the Garden County got back into the contest seven minutes after the resumption when Sean Doyle finished a penalty to the net after Dan Cooney had been taken down.
Dublin would kick four of the next five scores to stretch the gap back out to six, but James Boland and Jack Kirwan then added further Wicklow goals to set up a grandstand finish.
Critically Greg McEneaney, who has seen game time in the Allianz League for Dessie Farrell's seniors, and Conor Dolan were able to add points either side of those majors, and those two points would end up being the difference between the sides.
The other game in the group ended in a draw as Offaly snatched a share of the spoils - 2-04 to 0-10 - from their trip to the Stabannon Parnells grounds at Castlebellingham.
In difficult conditions it was Louth who held a slender 0-03 0-02 lead at the break thanks to a Darragh Dorian point.
A brace of scores each from Kieran McArdle and Sean Reynolds pushed Louth six points clear with 13 minutes to play. But Offaly weren't finished, as Alex Egan converted a penalty, before John Furlong got the all important touch to force home a second goal in injury time.
On Tuesday Louth will head to Parnell Park to face Dublin, while Offaly will entertain Wicklow.
In Group 1, Laois took home the points from Netwatch Cullen Park after a hard-earned two-point victory over Carlow.
The hosts began strongly, points from Evan Corr and Bryan McMahon and a expertly taken goal from Eoghan Byrne putting them ahead early.
However, David Costello replied from the penalty spot for the visitors and that was the cue for a Laois spurt, Shaun Fitzpatrick rattling over three from play as they led 1-07 to 1-04 at the break.
It was a lead they wouldn't relinquish, though Carlow shaded the second half, McMahon stroking over 0-04 in total. Colin Dunne was introduced in the second half and popped over 0-03 as the away side hung on to win 1-12 to 1-10.
Meanwhile, Meath made light work of Longford in a low-scoring encounter in difficult conditions in Newtownforbes.
Aided by the wind in the first half, Meath built up an 0-08 to 0-01 lead, Eoghan Frayne accounting for much of the scoring haul.
Matthew Flynn clipped over a point to reduce the deficit to six at the break with the hosts having the wind at their back in the second period.
However, they failed to capitalise and Meath were never seriously threatened, Liam Stafford and Oisín Keogh lobbing over early scores to dampen any hopes of a comeback.
The captain Frayne wound up with six points in total as the Royals cantered away as easy winners on an unprepossessing scoreline of 0-12 to 0-04.
Next time out, Meath host Carlow in Ashbourne, while Longford are the visitors to O'Moore Park in Portlaoise. Both games played off next Tuesday evening.
