Westmeath 1-11 Armagh 1-6:Westmeath got their first points of this year's league with victory over Armagh at Cusack Park yesterday.

The home side suffered a bad early blow when Dessie Dolan was forced to retire with a hamstring problem.

In the last minute of the first half, Westmeath were gifted a goal when an innocuous 35-metre lob from Martin Flanagan was fumbled by Armagh goalkeeper Ciarán McKinney and the ball trickled into the net to give the home team a 1-5 to 0-4 lead at the break.

Westmeath soon increased their advantage on the change of ends, with two terrific points from Fergal Wilson.

Armagh got a much-needed lifeline in the 16th minute when Martin O'Rourke was fouled inside the penalty area. Aidan O'Rourke converted the spot-kick to leave three points between the sides.

The closing 15 minutes was full of niggly incidents and the referee brandished red cards to Michael Ennis of Westmeath and Armagh's Enda McNulty and Martin O'Rourke, all for second bookable offences.

Flanagan kicked over a free from the 45-metre line in the dying moments to wrap up the points for Westmeath.

WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; F Boyle, K Gavin, J Keane; M Ennis, D Heavin, D Healy; D Duffy, M Flanagan (1-2, 0-1 free); F Wilson (0-5, 0-1 free), G Dolan, D O'Donoghue (0-1); M Greene, D Dolan (0-2, frees), T Cleary (0-1). Subs: A Mangan for Greene, P Bannon for D Dolan, D Glennon for G Dolan, D Bannon for P Bannon, K Scally for Cleary.

ARMAGH: C McKinney; E McNulty, B Donaghy, F Moriarty; C McKeever (0-1), A O'Rourke (1-1, 1-0 pen), P Duffy; G O'Neill, P McGrane; G Loughran, M O'Rourke (0-1), P McKeever (0-1, free); G Swift, R Clarke, S McDonnell (0-1, free). Subs: J Lavery for Swift, M O'Rourke for O'Neill, K Toner for Loughran, B Mallon (0-1) for McKeever, A Mallon for Duffy.

Referee: M Sludden (Tyrone).