Westmeath 1-19 Monaghan 2-11:SCORING A massive 1-18 from play, Westmeath chalked up their second victory of this year's Division Two campaign over Monaghan in Mullingar yesterday.

Westmeath looked sharper in the early exchanges and should have been more than the four points they were ahead (0-6 to 0-2) at the end of the first quarter.

Monaghan pounced for an unanswered 1-4 between the 24th and 29th minutes, the goal an opportunist effort by Christopher McGuinness after a shot for a point from substitute David Hughes had come back off the upright. However, the home side responded well by scoring 1-4 of their own without reply by the break, the goal coming from Kieran Martin in the 34th minute, leaving Westmeath ahead by 1-10 to 1-6.

Ger Egan and David Glennon caused the visitors’ defence endless problems. The pair scored nine points from play between them and Egan also had a goal disallowed for a square ball offence.

A second yellow card for corner-back Colin Walsh in the 56th minute was a big blow for Monaghan, but Paul Finlay gave them hope with a low shot to the net. However, Westmeath pulled away.

WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; M Curley, K Gavin, K Maguire; D McDermott, P Sharry, B Moran; J Heslin (0-2, 1f), P Bannon; K Martin (1-1), G Egan (0-5), R Foley; M Ennis (0-1), David Glennon (0-4), Denis Glennon (0-3). Subs: P Sheridan (0-1) for Ennis (inj, h-t), C McCormack (0-2) for Martin (inj, 52), D Quinn for Connaughton (inj, 60), A Giles for Foley (63), D Gavin for Moran (67).

MONAGHAN: M Keogh; G McQuaid, D Mone, C Walsh; D Malone, Darren Hughes, D Morgan; J Turley (0-1), D Clerkin; E Lennon (0-1), P Finlay (1-5, 3f, ‘45’), S Gollogly (0-1); E Duffy (0-1), K Hughes, C McGuinness (1-0). Subs: David Hughes for Mone (inj, 24), C Hanratty (0-2) for Gollogly (h-t), D Wylie for McQuaid (60).

Referee: M Condon (Waterford).