Longford 1-10 Westmeath 0-7:LONGFORD DUG deep to register a six-point home win at Pearse Park last night.
Under-21 stars Robbie Smyth and James McGivney pointed for the hosts to take a 0-2 to 0-0 lead after four minutes.
Westmeath equalised by the 14th minute, but the visitors were wasteful. They had three wides, three efforts came off the uprights and two chances finished in the hands of Longford goalkeeper Gareth Higgins as the hosts claimed a 0-5 to 0-3 interval lead.
A Barry McKeon point helped Longford to a double-score lead inside a minute of the restart.
A penalty goal from Smyth propelled Longford to a 1-8 to 0-6 lead in the 46th minute.
In the 52nd minute Westmeath captain Paddy Holloway was dismissed on a straight red card.
LONGFORD: G Higgins; M McHugh, B O’Farrell, J Gill; S Clarke, B Collum, C Farrelly; J McGivney (0-4, three frees), T Jackson; D Mimnagh, C Clarke (0-1), C Lynn (0-1, free); B McKeon (0-2), R Smyth (1-2, 1-0 pen, two frees), G Maguire. Subs: M Mulligan for McHugh (16); R McNerney for Maguire (29); B Walsh for Lynn (35); P Gill for Jackson (44); E Noonan for S Clarke (58).
WESTMEATH: M McMahon; D Lynch, J Ganley, K Daly (0-1); G Greville, P Holloway, J Rock (0-1); R Henshaw (0-1), D McNicholas; D Fennell, D McCormack (0-1), R Greville; L Dolan (0-1), G Leech (0-1, free), R Connellan. Subs: A O’Sullivan for D Fennell (44); P Maxwell for Lynch; P Fennell for McCormack (both 46); C Bradley for R Greville (53); D Whelan (0-1) for Connellan (58).
Referee: David Gough (Meath)
