Following a rousing rallying effort with only 14 players that left Dublin cold at the end of the Leinster football final, Westmeath claimed victory by two points at Croke Park yesterday.

Right corner back Donal O'Donoghue was sent to the line after only six minutes of the second half after a Dublin attacker went down. The referee consulted with an umpire before showing the red card. The incident seemed to signal the end for the midlands side who had managed to stay level 1-4 apiece at half-time.

Dublin manager Cyril Kevlihan saw the sending off incident as trouble for his team. "It turned out to the old story of 14 players rising their game against 15." Westmeath's response had to be mighty, given that they slipped into a five-point deficit.

Dublin had some unforgivable wides, but they creeped ahead on the scoreboard while, at the same time, ensuring that Westmeath remained scoreless for the first 21 minutes of the second half.

But the manner in which Westmeath broke their second-half duck proved a tremendous boost. The five-point deficit was suddenly cut to two thanks to a marvellous goal. PJ Ward spotted substitute Tom Browne lurking towards the left and provided a pin-point pass for Browne to slide the early ball to the net.

Padraig Leavy, who landed a sensational 63-yard free in the first half, pointed to leave only the minimum between the sides with seven minutes remaining.

Then came the grand-stand finish with three substitutes, Browne, Gary Flanagan and Gordon McDonnell scoring points of quality in rapid succession. O hEineachain-pass, but his blaster of a shot seared wide of the near post. It was fitting when PJ Ward had the last say with the final point.

Westmeath: E Farrell; D O'Donoghue, K Larkin, F Newman; D McDermott, A Lambden, G Glennon; P Leavy (0-2, frees), N Kilmartin; N Adamson, C Whyte (0-1), C Brennan; L O'Reilly, PJ Ward (1-3, one free), A Hickey. Subs: G Flanagan (0-1) for Hickey (42 mins); T Browne (1-1) for Whyte (45); N Duffy for Kilmartin (50); G McDonnell (0-1) for Brennan (50); J Martin for Newman (59).

Dublin: V Galvin; P Hayden, N Kane, D Murray; S McCann (0-2), A Cleere, N O'Driscoll; S Walsh (0-2, two frees), G Coughlan; C Keaney (1-1 ), L O hEineachain (0-1), G Joyce; S Mills (0-2, one free), D Lally, C O'Driscoll (0-1). Subs: A Broogan for Hayden and K Devine for Joyce (both half-time); D Lowry (0-1) for McCann (44 mins); J Waldron for Coughlan (54).

Referee: J Smith (Meath).