Sub Shane Corcoran proved to be the Westmeath hero when he kicked the winning point with just seconds remaining, as the home team edged out Sligo by the narrowest of margins in Mullingar.
Despite playing against the wind, Sligo, under the joint-management of Dessie Sloyan and Eamonn O'Hara, dominated the opening exchanges and deservedly led by 0-04 to 0-00 after 11 minutes, their scores coming from Luke Towey, Nathan Mullen, Niall Murphy (a free) and Lee Deignan.
Either side of a Darragh Cummins point, Danny McCartan scored a one- and two-pointer for the home team, and when a great run by Senan Baker teed up Jonathan Lynam for a coolly-taken goal in the 16th minute, Westmeath led against the run of play by 1-03 to 0-05.
The teams were level at 1-04 to 0-07 after 25 minutes, but Mark McHugh’s men had a purple patch during the remainder of the first half which yielded an unanswered 1-05, the goal again scored by Lynam in the 23rd minute after fine approach play by Ronan Wallace, while the first of the five points should really have been a goal by Luke Loughlin.
However, he compensated by slotting over a great two-point free with the last kick of the half. Westmeath led by 2-09 to 0-07 at the interval.
As was the case in the first half, Sligo dominated the middle third on the change of ends and three early points – including two Alan McLoughlin frees – cut into the winners’ lead. In the 48th minute, McLoughlin turned provider for Cian Lally to fist the ball to the net from point-blank range, and now the gap was just two points (2-09 to 1-10).
A brace each from Loughlin and Sam McCartan were the home team’s only scores until their late winner, with a great brace of two-pointers by sub Pat Spillane the highlight for a wasteful team in all-black. Indeed, the second of these in the 70th minute looked like it might prove to be the winning score, until well-taken points by subs Sam McCartan and Shane Corcoran enabled Westmeath to eke out a slightly fortunate win at the death.
Westmeath: J Connaughton; D Scahill, C Drumm, B Sayeh; R Wallace, T Baker, B Guerin; J Lynam (2-00), R Connellan; K O’Sullivan, S Baker (0-01, f), M Whittaker (0-01); D McCartan (0-03, 1 2pt), L Loughlin (0-05, 1 2ptf, 1 f), B Kelly.
Subs: S McCartan (0-03) for Kelly (18), R Forde for Wallace (inj, 46), T Molloy for Guerin (54), S Corcoran (0-01) for S Baker (57), B Cooney for O’Sullivan (65).
Sligo: A Devaney; T Ross, E Lyons, L Casserly; N Mullen (0-01), D Cummins (0-01), J Lavin; C Mulligan, L Towey (0-02); C Sheridan, N Murphy (0-02, 2f), C Lally (1-00); A McLoughlin (0-04, 1 2ptf, 2 f), L Deignan (0-01), S Deignan (0-01).
Subs: P Spillane (0-04, 2 2pt) for S Deignan (40), M Lavin for Ross (60), P O’Connor for Cummins (64), D Walsh for Lavin (70), J Flynn for L Deignan (70+2).
Referee: P Faloon (Down).
