A fisted goal by substitute Sean Reynolds deep into injury time was the crucial score as Louth eked out a hard-earned 1-17 to 0-18 win against Westmeath in a pulsating match played in difficult conditions in Mullingar.
The new rules certainly seemed to work in this game, with end-to-end action all through and the lead changing hands on a number of occasions – on one occasion because of the new two-point score.
Ciaran Downey and Luke Loughlin traded early points. Peter Lynch and Loughlin (free) followed suit before Sam Mulroy registered the first two-pointer scored in TEG Cusack Park from a free outside the 40-metre arc in the 10th minute.
Loughlin remained the home team's biggest threat and he halved the deficit a minute later. The visitors took control with points from Downey, Mulroy and Lynch, and Ryan Burns two-pointer.
However, Westmeath rallied well in the second quarter and five unanswered points from Robbie Forde, Loughlin and skipper Ronan Wallace brought them right back into contention.
Sam McCartan also had a goal attempt well saved by Niall McDonnell as Louth led by 0-09 to 0-08 at half-time.
A superb two-pointer from Loughlin nudged Dermot McCabe’s charges ahead within two minutes of the resumption.
The Downs’ man then set up a gilt-edged goal chance for his side, but Louth had a lucky escape.
Mulroy equalised from a free before another two-pointer from Loughlin put Westmeath two clear.
Ciaran Keenan missed when a goal seemed certain for Ger Brenan’s troops, allowing Stephen Smith to nudge Westmeath three clear at 0-13 to 0-10 in the 45th minute.
The match was niggly at this juncture. Louth rallied with four unanswered points from the boots of sub Tommy Durnin, Andy McDonnell, All Star Craig Lennon, and McDonnell again.
A Loughlin free and a fine score from the hard-working Wallace regained the lead for Westmeath at 0-15 to 0-14, but two points from sub Daire McConnon edged the visitors ahead.
Wallace equalised in the first minute of injury time – a minute of five was announced with no hooter in operation.
However, when a point attempt from McConnon dropped short, Reynolds was on hand to fist the ball to the net from close range.
Donal McKenny was black-carded before a two-point free from Loughlin left the deficit at the bare minimum.
A late, late Louth counterattack yielded the insurance point from a Mulroy free.
Louth: N McDonnell; D Corcoran, D Campbell, D McKenny; P Lynch (0-02), E Carolan, C Lennon (0-01); D McDonnell, C Grimes; A McDonnell (0-02), S Mulroy (0-05, 1 2ptf, 2f), C Downey (0-02); C Keenan, K McArdle, R Burns (0-02, 1 2pt). Subs: T Durnin (0-01) for Grimes (45), S Reynolds (1-00) for Downey (45), T McDonnell for Carolan (51), P Grimes-Murphy for Burns (58), D McConnon (0-02, 1f) for Keenan (62).
Westmeath: C McCormack; J Gonoud, C Drumm, D Giles; E Gaffney, R Wallace (0-03), S McCartan; R Connellan, B Guerin; M Whittaker, F O’Hara, C Dillon; S Smith (0-01), L Loughlin (0-12, 2 2pt, 1 2ptf, 3f), R Forde (0-02, 1f). Subs: K O’Sullivan for O’Hara (24), K Martin for Gaffney (51), D McCartan for Forde (54), D Scahill for Giles (64), B Cooney for Smith (69).
Referee: B Tiernan (Dublin)
