Westmeath consolidated their position at the top of the Division Two table with a narrow but deserved win over Laois at Cusack Park, Mullingar yesterday afternoon.

Laois had the aid of a very strong wind in the first half and they took the lead in the first minute when MJ Tierney converted a free. However, within a minute John Heslin slotted the ball to the net from a penalty kick after he had been fouled and Callum McCormack quickly added a terrific point from play. The visitors then took control, scoring six points without reply between the 11th and 22nd minutes inlcuding a Tierney brace of frees before Gary Walsh rounded off a flowing move with a clinical low finish for a goal in the 24th minute.

Westmeath were unlucky not to score a second goal when Denis Corroon’s shot came back off the crossbar but they kicked two late points to keep them in touch. Laois led by 1-6 to 1-3 at the interval.

John Heslin narrowed the gap within two minutes of the restart with a great point from play. Heslin’s unerring accuracy from a range of placed balls was largely responsible for Westmeath drawing level at 1-8 each by the 61st minute, with Tierney having slotted over two frees for his side.

Laois’s Brendan Quigley was sent off in the 64th minute after picking up a second yellow card, before veteran forward Dessie Dolan made his mark as a substitute by nudging Pat Flanagan’s charges ahead with a point. Denis Corroon then had a goal disallowed for square ball, but the imperious Heslin wrapped up the points for a very spirited home team with another sublime point from a free in the last minute of normal time.