SFC Qualifiers: Donegal were given an almighty scare in Carrick-on-Shannon this evening as they needed extra-time to overcome Letrim 1-16 to 1-14 in the first round of the All-Ireland football qualifiers.
The league champions, dumped out of the Ulster championship by Tyrone, were sluggish early on and duly punished by Leitrim who deserved their early 0-6 to 0-3 lead.
But when Michael Foley missed a penalty on the half-hour mark, Donegal went up the other end to claim a goal and a point in quick succession to edge their noses in front.
Well below their best, Donegal nevertheless clung grimly to the lead and were 1-11 to 0-11 ahead deep in injury time when James Glancy bundled home from close range to force extra-time.
In Castlebar, Mayo got their campaign back on track with a 1-19 to 3-7 win over Cavan. Elsewhere, Limerick were narrowly beaten by Louth (1-11 to 0-13) while Meath overcame Down 1-10 to 0-8 in Newry.
Earlier, Kildare booked their place in the second round with a hard-fought 2-13 to 1-13 over Roscommon at Hyde Park. Roscommon started slowly, trailing by three at the break, but edged upped the tempo in the second half when a Karl Mannion goal looked to have swung the momentum their way.
But Kildare, for whom John Doyle was immense, refused to buckle and were rewarded for their persistence in the dying moments when Padraig O'Neill fired home to regain a lead they would not relinquish.
Tomás Ó Flatharta's Westmeath have banished the memories the Leinster championship defeat at the hands of Longford earlier in the summer with a convincing 0-18 to 0-9 win in Mullingar.
Westmeath, caught napping by Longford earlier in the summer, were not about to be turned over again and dominated throughout, comfortably earning their passage.