Meath 1-12 Westmeath 2-8:AFTER LEADING by six points at the break, Meath were fortunate to snatch the spoils at Navan's Páirc Tailteann on Saturday night when a late, late Stephen Bray point gave them a second brace of league points.
After Joe Sheridan fired a low shot to the net on four minutes, Meath went on to lead by 1-3 to 0-0 after 11 minutes and it was 1-8 to 1-2 at the break, Westmeath’s goal coming from a Paul Bannon penalty after Meath’s James Macken was adjudged to have fouled Paul Greville. After midfielder David Duffy was stretchered off just before half-time, Westmeath rejigged and stepped up their involvement.
The moving of Michael Ennis from centre-back to the half-forward line paid dividends with the team captain contributing a goal and two points to the comeback. The second gave the visitors the lead with seven minutes left and a major upset looked on the cards.
After being guilty of some dire misses, David Bray levelled from about 30 metres and after Bannon was off target, Stephen Bray sealed the victory.
MEATH: D Lyons; N McKeigue, J Macken, E Harrington; C O’Connor, B Regan, S Kenny (0-1); N Crawford, M Ward; A Moyles, J Queeney (0-2, two frees), A Moyles; D Bra\y (0-5, one free), J Sheridan (1-0), S Bray (0-4). Subs: N Mooney for Lewis (61 mins), S McAnarney for Kenny (62 mins).
WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; S Boyle, K Gavin, J Gaffey; D Harte, M Ennis (1-2), D Healy; D O’Donoghue, D Duffy; R Doolan, J Smyth, P Bannon (1-3, goal penalty, one free); T Warburton, P Greville (0-2, one free), G Hoey. Subs: S Bracken for Duffy (33 mins), G Flanagan for Smyth (half-time), W Murtagh for Doolan (49 mins), P Gilsenan (0-1) for Warburton (53 mins), W Coyne forboyle (70 mins).
Referee: J White (Donegal).
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