Westmeath 2-16; Mayo 2-10: The great escape is complete. This was Westmeath's first win of the campaign but it was enough to ensure Division One football next season. Fermanagh's win over Longford the previous weekend left the door ajar and they took advantage with a victory at Cusack Park, Mullingar, yesterday.
Westmeath had help from Cork and Dublin who defeated Fermanagh and Longford, respectively.
Westmeath manager Páidí Ó Sé admitted he didn't think avoiding relegation was a possibility a couple of weeks ago. Afterwards he said: "We can now look forward and prepare for the championship and we can say that we retained our Division One status."
Mayo came into the game safe from relegation but out of the running for the semi-finals. And manager John Maughan felt Westmeath's greater need for victory proved decisive. "I felt the team that had something to play for probably showed the greater desire."
Assisted by the strong wind, Westmeath got off to a dream start. On two minutes Dessie Dolan found Denis Glennon with a delightful ball and Glennon fired home. With Dolan and Fergal Wilson on target from frees, Westmeath were 1-5 to 0-2 in front within 16 minutes. But, in a first half of attacking football, Mayo were threatening going forward and in the 18th minute they hit a goal, Alan Costello exploiting some sloppiness in the Westmeath full-back line. The Westmeath defence was carved open again in the 26th minute and Austin O'Malley found the net.
Westmeath's second goal, which arrived on 30 minutes from a penalty, proved crucial. Gary Dolan tucked away the spot kick following a foul on Wilson. And points by Paul Conway, Alan Mangan and Dolan set Westmeath up for a half-time cushion of 2-11 to 2-4.
That cushion didn't look secure early in the second half. Mayo were making judicious use of the long ball into their lively full forwards. But while substitute Patrick Harte and Austin O'Malley (2) scored points to leave it 2-11 to 2-7, the westerners' hopes were undermined by a string of wides in the third quarter.
It was the 19th minute of the half before Westmeath added to their tally when substitute Joe Fallon pointed a free and points by Derek Heavin, Fallon and Dolan set them on their way.
WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; J Davitt, D O'Donoghue, J Keane; M Ennis, D Healy, D Heavin (0-1); R O'Connell, G Dolan (1-0, pen); D Glennon (1-1), P Conway (0-1), A Mangan (0-2); F Wilson (0-3, 3 frees), P Martin, D Dolan (0-6, 3 frees). Subs: J Fallon (0-2, 1 free) for Martin (43 mins); J Conroy for Wilson (65 mins); D Kilmartin for O'Donoghue (67 mins); Tom Stuart-Trainor for Davitt (74 mins).
MAYO: J Healy; D Geraghty, P Kelly, G Ruane; F Costello, D Sweeney, J Nallen; F Kelly, D Heaney; M Moyles (0-1), BJ Padden (0-1), T Mortimer; M McNicholas, A O'Malley (1-3, 0-1 free), A Costello (1-0). Subs: P Harte (0-3) for F Kelly (22 mins), C Mortimer (0-1 free) for Padden (57), D Munnelly (0-1, 45) for T Mortimer (57).
Referee: J White (Donegal).
