Louth 1-12 Westmeath 0-7:It was a little like the folk-tale race between the hare and the tortoise, especially after the hitherto unbeaten Westmeath were reduced to 13 players in the second half at Dundalk yesterday.
The Division One B tie played in the wet was described by the Louth manager, Eamon McEneaney, as a grinding affair. Referee Ciarán Brannigan flashed cards and gave ticks at every turn.
Yet, Tomás Ó Flatharta, the Westmeath manager, said it was far from a dirty match.
Westmeath's corner back John Keane and midfielder Damian Healy were sent off with straight red and second yellow cards respectively. Brannigan dished out no less than six more yellow cards to Westmeath and three more to Louth.
A disappointed Ó Flatharta said: "Running out of numbers was clearly a factor but in fairness compared with our three victory games we were sadly lacking in work rate. Our marking in defence was loose and we let them in for an easy goal with our defenders way off their men."
The goal, a palmed effort by the opportunist Shane Lennon at the end of a classy four-man move, was the platform on which Louth built with confidence.
Westmeath had opened promisingly with points from Alan Mangan and Dessie Dolan for an encouraging two-point lead. But the Louth keeper John Reynolds saved a Dolan shot that seemed destined for the net. And Westmeath hopes were ultimately dashed by the sendings off.
For once the Louth defence seemed in disarray early in the second half as two Dolan frees had cut the interval arrears (1-5 to 0-3) to a single goal. But then the roof caved in on the visitors, Keane being despatched to the sideline 12 minutes after the restart and Healy soon following.
Michael McDonnell and JJ Quigley, substitutes both, tacked on three points in a golden closing quarter by Louth.
Peter McGinnity made a terrific return to padlock the Louth defence following the concussion he sustained in the Armagh game. Not surprisingly, he was named man of the match.
A downside to this Louth win saw John O'Brien removed to hospital with double vision.
LOUTH: J Reynolds; D Brennan, J Carr, A Page; J O'Brien, P McGinnity, R Finnegan; P Keenan (0-1), R Carroll; C Grimes (0-2), M Brennan (0-1), M Stanfield (0-1); P Hoey (0-1), S Lennon (1-2), D Clarke (0-1 f). Subs: J J Quigley (0-1) for O'Brien, M McDonnell (0-2) for Stanfield, J P Rooney for Clarke, D Reid for Grimes.
WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; K Gavin, M Ennis, J Keane; A Rigney, D O'Donoghue, D Heavin; D Healy, M Flanagan; F Wilson, D Dolan, (0-5, 3fs and 45), J Smith; A Mangan (0-2), P Bannon, D Glennon. Subs: J Conlon for Wilson, D O'Shaughnessy for Smith.
Referee: C Brannigan (Down).
