Sligo registered an impressive 1-14 to 0-11 defeat of Westmeath to complete their AFL Division Three campaign with a flourish at Markievicz Park.
Outstanding scores from Alan McLoughlin, Niall Murphy and Sean Carrabine helped secure Sligo a fourth win in seven games.
But Westmeath are still promoted due to Clare's loss away to Down, although they will be worried about a second-half collapse after showing such enterprise during the opening period.
The home side had nothing to play for, with their promotion chances having evaporated the previous weekend when Offaly were allowed to leave Markievicz Park with a draw.
Sligo, without injured trio Pat Spillane, Jack Lavin and Luke Towey and with Patrick O’Connor also unavailable, were looking to end their campaign on a high, with their Connacht Senior Football Championship quarter-final against Leitrim coming up next month.
Westmeath, who drew with Down in round six, needed to beat Sligo to get promoted but if things didn’t go well for them at the Sligo town venue they were relying on Down to either beat or draw with Clare at Newry’s Pairc Esler.
Dessie Dolan’s side brought promotion form to the north-west as they were unbeaten in six games, an impressive sequence of five wins and one draw.
Westmeath started with purpose and a brace of points from Luke Loughlin had them 0-02 to no score ahead by the fifth minute.
But the visitors, despite pressure and possession, were never more than two points ahead at any stage during the first-half.
Sligo opened the scoring with a fine point from Alan McLoughlin and the same player notched Sligo’s second point with a fizzing effort that, if a few inches lower, would have been a goal chance.
Westmeath added some tidy points, including efforts from David Lynch and Ronan O’Toole, but Sligo were equally productive and points from Lee Deignan and team captain Niall Murphy levelled matters at 0-04 apiece by the 26th minute.
Points from Ronan O’Toole, who scored from a smart counterattack, and a second converted free by Luke Loughlin left Westmeath two points ahead at the break, 0-06 to 0-04.
Sligo had opportunities in that first-half, kicking seven wides, with Westmeath also off target with four attempts.
Sligo dominated the second-half, outscoring Westmeath by eight points, 1-10 to 0-05, as they overturned the interval deficit with four unanswered points to lead 0-08 to 0-06 by the 45th minute.
Westmeath, who had John Heslin added to their attack, twice tied the scores over the next five minutes but Sligo were imposing themselves through fine scores by Alan McLoughlin and Niall Murphy.
The visitors began to run out of ideas and Sligo bagged the game’s only goal when Sean Carrabine netted with a bullet on the stroke of 70 minutes.
Westmeath came close to consolation goal in stoppage time but Luke Loughlin’s piledriver was tipped over by Sligo custodian Aidan Devaney.
Sligo: Aidan Devaney, Paul McNamara, Eddie McGuinness, Evan Lyons, Peter Laffey, Darragh Cummins (0-01), Nathan Mullen, Canice Mulligan, Paul Kilcoyne, Alan McLoughlin (0-05), Lee Deignan (0-01), Cian Lally, Eoghan Smith, Sean Carrabine (1-02, 1f), Niall Murphy (0-05)
Subs used: David Quinn for Eoghan Smith (58), Donal Conlon for Lee Deignan (58), Mikey Gordon for Paul McNamara (64), Keelan Cawley for Paul Kilcoyne (67), Mark Walsh for Peter Laffey (70+3)
Westmeath: Jason Daly, Daniel Scahill, Kevin Maguire, James Dolan, Sam McCartan (0-01), David Lynch (0-01), Nigel Harte, Ray Connellan, Andy McCormack (0-01), Jonathan Lynam, Ronan O’Toole (0-2), Conor Dillon, Luke Loughlin (0-04, 2f), Kieran Martin, Robbie Forde
Subs used: John Heslin (0-02, 1f) for Kieran Martin (h-t); Jamie Gonoud for Nigel Harte (50), Stephen Smith for Robbie Forde (50), Matthew Whittaker for Jonathan Lynam (52), Eoin Mulvihill for Daniel Scahill (67)
Referee: Jonathan Hayes (Limerick)
