Westmeath  - 0-8 Antrim - 0-5:Westmeath chalked up their second successive victory in the league with this impressive three-point success over Leitrim in yesterday's Division 2A game played at Cusack Park, Mullingar.

They displayed plenty of grit and character in overcoming the disadvantage of losing a man five minutes into the second half. Wing-half forward Shane Colleary was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Leitrim's Michael McGuinness but, as is often the case, the home side lifted their game and outplayed the visitors for the remainder of the 70 minutes.

The 3,000 plus attendance had little to enthuse over in the opening half as scores were at a premium. The first point did not arrive until the 26th minute courtesy of Colleary but Leitrim levelled matters three minutes later through an Oliver Green pointed free.

Former All Star Rory O'Connell set up Des Dolan for a marvellous point 60 seconds later but Leitrim finished the half the stronger and Green and James Holohan sent the visitors in at the interval leading by 0-3 to 0-2.

Within 30 seconds of the restart Westmeath were level with man-of-the-match Martin Flanagan firing over a lovely point. Dermot Reynolds restored Leitrim's lead almost immediately before Colleary was sidelined.

Back came Westmeath and with O'Connell lording midfield they took the game to their visitors. Dolan, O'Connell and Michael Ennis all found the target as Leitrim's challenge wilted and the home side went further in front when Flanagan and David Kilmartin added points. Westmeath were reduced to 13 players late on when O'Connell was shown his second yellow card.

WESTMEATH: A Lennon; D Healy, D Mitchell, K Henson; B Morley, D Gavin, D Kilmartin (0-1); R O'Connell (0-1), D O'Shaughnessy; F Wilson, M Flanagan (0-2), S Colleary (0-1); J P Casey, M Ennis (0-1), D Dolan (0-2). Subs: P Conway for Wilson, A Mangan for Conway, G Dolan for O'Shaughnessy.

LEITRIM: G Phelan; J McKeon, A Charles, M McGuinness; N Gilbane, J Phelan, D Reynolds (0-1); S Canning, C Carroll; C Regan, S Quinn, B Brennan; J Holohan (0-1), O Maguire (0-2), D Maxwell. Subs: P McLoughlin (0-1) for Carroll, M Foley for Brennan, M Duignan for Maguire, M McCawley for Holohan.

Referee: M Kolbohm (Tyrone).