National Football League/Westmeath 0-12 Tipperary 0-9: Goalkeeper Gary Connaughton's penalty save proved pivotal to Westmeath's victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.

With Dessie Dolan in scoring form, the midland side dominated the opening period, although three points from Declan Browne kept Tipperary within two points at the break, 0-8 to 0-6. Browne had a goal chance two minutes after the restart when Tipperary were awarded a penalty but Connaughton came to the rescue.

WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; J Davitt, M Ennis, J Keane; D McDermott, D Healy, G Dillon (0-1); D Duffy (0-1) , R O'Connell; J Nugent (0-1), Denis Glennon, P Bannon; A Mangan (0-2), PJ Ward (0-1), D Dolan (0-6). Subs: G Dolan for Nugent, David Glennon for Denis Glennon, D O'Shaughnessy for Bannon.

TIPPERARY: P Fitzgerald; P King, N Kelly, A Morrissey; M Phelan, R Costigan, C Maher; E Hanrahan (0-2), G Hannigan; A Fitzgerald, B Hickey (0-1), N Fitzgerald; B Mulvihill, D Browne (0-5), D O'Brien (0-1). Subs: M Peters for Fitzgerald, B Lacey for Hickey; S Murphy for King.

Referee: S Doyle (Wexford).