Westmeath almost caused an upset at Páirc Esler with a brilliant second-half comeback that just fell short with Down winning 2-15 to 1-15 on Saturday evening.
The Mournemen looked to be cruising to their third league win, leading 2-14 to 0-07 10 minutes into the second half, but a combination of the visitors battling back and the hosts panicking almost led to disaster for Down and elation for their opponents.
Westmeath notched up 1-07 without reply but time wasn't on their side and Down regained control in the last few minutes with the hooter saving them in the end to win this fixture by three points.
Down had built up a strong half-time lead of eight points thanks in part to a late goal from Ryan Magill.
The Mournemen were by far the better side at that stage, as the visitors had only converted five points, one of those a two-pointer, while their opponents had 1-10 on the board.
Sam McCartan opened the scoring for Westmeath from a free but it was the only time that Mark McHugh's side would lead, despite playing into the wind and persistent rain.
Adam Crimmins replied with a brace of points from play, either side of one from John McGeough.
Down were playing well and led 0-05 to 0-02 but midway through the half, Westmeath had wiped the lead out with a free from beyond the arc converted by Luke Loughlin and another from just inside a minute later.
That was as good as it got for the Lake County however, as the excellent Odhran Murdock nudged Down in front again and a couple of scores from Ceilum Doherty and one from Daniel Guinness made it 0-09 to 0-05.
Things just weren't going Westmeath's way as a two-point effort from Loughlin dropped short, as did another from play moments later, while Down were nailing their shots with Guinness sending the next between the sticks and Magill picking up a pass in front of goal from Pearse McPolin for a maximum on 33 minutes.
That gave Down an eight-point advantage at the break and they looked to be in good shape, as Conor Laverty's men continued where they left off in the second half.
Nothing was going right for Westmeath as Down net-minder Ronan Burns pulled off a brilliant double save to deny them with a '45 dropping short and another effort sailing wide moments later.
Sub Robbie Forde made it 1-14 to 0-07 15 minutes into the second period, but Down remained in control at that stage.
Pat Havern looked to be ready for his first point of the evening as he lined up a shot from range, but the outcome was even better as his shot dropped short and poacher McGeough was on hand to fist home.
It certainly seemed like the rest of the half would be routine for the hosts but enter the Westmeath subs and things changed utterly.
The visitors began the comeback with points from Ray Connellan and sub Senan Baker either side of a two-point free converted by Loughlin.
That made it 2-14 to 0-13 with 10 minutes left on the clock and they could have narrowed it further but Loughlin's next two-point effort flew wide.
Still, they made it a six-point game as Forde scored the next, and panic really set in for Down. Hope was restored for the visiting supporters as Brian Cooney netted and Forde narrowed the margin to two as the barrage continued.
A couple of lucky calls saw Down back in possession however, and while Tom Close hit the post, Doherty scored the next point - the last score of the game.
Down: R Burns; P Fegan, P Laverty, C Rogers; P McPolin (0-01), R Magill (1-00), D Guinness (0-03); O Murdock (0-03), R McEvoy; A Crimmins (0-03), C Doherty (0-04), S Annett; D Scullion, P Havern, J McGeough (1-01).
Subs: B O'Hagan for Scullion (56), T Close for Magill (52), P Brooks for Rogers (53), R Carr for Havern (55), J Doran for McGeough (67).
Westmeath: J Daly; D Scahill, C Drumm, B Sayeh; R Wallace (0-01), T Baker, J Lynam; S Allen, R Connellan (0-02); K O'Sullivan, S McCartan (0-01, 1f), M Whittaker; D McCartan, L Loughlin (0-06, 2tpf, 1f), TJ Cox.
Subs: S Baker (0-01) for D McCartan (13), B Cooney (1-01) for T Baker (ht), R Forde (0-03) for TJ Cox (ht), B Gurerin for Lynam (53) J Duncan for S McCartan (56)
Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan).
Watch Allianz League Sunday from 9.35pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
