Westmeath 2-12 Carlow 0-14
Goals proved to be crucial as Westmeath started life under Shane O'Brien with a win over Carlow in the Walsh Cup.
In difficult conditions at Kinnegad, the Joe McDonagh finalists were never behind after Robbie Greville gave them the lead from a free inside two minutes.
Joe Boyle hit the net midway through the first-half, after some good build-up play from Shane McGovern and Niall Mitchell. That score helped the Lake county to hold the slenderest of leads at the break.
Westmeath then burst out of the blocks, and Greville's three-pointer capped a strong third quarter which saw them move six points clear.
Carlow weren't able to get closer than four points thereafter, as the 2019 Leinster Championship participants started the new season with defeat.
