NFL Westmeath 1-12 Donegal 1-11: Westmeath picked up their first win of the campaign with a hard-earned victory at Cusack Park yesterday. Donegal are now pointless after three games and face an uphill battle to avoid relegation.
In a lively opening both sides could have found the net on more than one occasion. Westmeath went ahead with points from Alan Mangan and Dessie Dolan, but Donegal were awarded a penalty in the fourth minute when James Davitt received a yellow card for his foul on Rory Kavanagh. However, Ryan Bradley's penalty was touched on to the post by Westmeath goalkeeper Gary Connaughton.
Donegal did hit the net in the eighth minute when a wayward pass by Westmeath substitute David Kilmartin allowed Stephen McDermott to set up Colm McFadden for a goal. It was the second time in the first 10 minutes the Westmeath full-back line was absent. Donegal held the lead for most of the first half, but a brilliant Dolan goal saw Westmeath draw level and at half-time the sides were tied, 1-6 each.
The visitors went 1-10 to 1-8 ahead within 15 minutes of the restart, but three wides in quick succession were costly for Donegal. Two points by Westmeath substitute Joe Fallon edged the home side 1-11 to 1-10 ahead and substitute Paddy Mulvihill added another point. Donegal's reply was an injury-time point by Michael Hegarty.
Westmeath finished with 14 men after John Keane was yellow-carded when the home side had used their six substitutes. Donegal's Brendan Devenney was sent off with Keane and, in total, six players were shown yellow cards. Rory O'Connell, who was also sent off against Offaly in last year's championship, also saw yellow.
WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; J Davitt, D O'Donoghue, J Keane; M Ennis, D Healy, D Heavin; R O'Connell, J Brennan; D Mitchell, M Flanagan, C Galligan; A Mangan (0-1), Dennis Glennon (0-1), D Dolan (1-4, 2 frees). Subs: D Kilmartin for Davitt (5 mins), J Fallon (0-4, one free, one 45) for Galligan (23 mins), D McDermott (0-1) for Heavin (30 mins), David Glennon for Mitchell (40 mins), D O'Shaughnessy for Brennan (52 mins), P Mulvihill (0-1) for O'Connell (60 mins).
DONEGAL: M Boyle; N McCready, R Sweeney, E McGee; S Carr, B Monaghan, K Cassidy; N Gallagher, S McDermott (0-2); R Kavanagh (0-2), M Hegarty (0-2), B Roper; C McFadden (1-3, 2 frees), B Devenney (0-1 free), R Bradley (0-1). Subs: K Lacey for R Sweeney (12 mins), B Dunnion for McCready (47 mins), A Sweeney for Bradley (51 mins), C Toye for Roper (60 mins), M Caulfield for Devenney (70 mins).
YELLOW CARDS: Westmeath: J Davitt (4 mins); R O'Connell (57 mins); J Keane (70 mins). Donegal: R Sweeney (11 mins); N McCready (47 mins); B Devenney (70 mins).
Referee: P Russell (Tipperary).
