Cork 0-11 Westmeath 0-9:CORK SURVIVED an amazing Westmeath rally in a controversial finish at rain-lashed Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night.

Substitute Dessie Dolan firmly believed he kicked an equalising point two minutes into injury-time only for his effort to be ruled wide.

Westmeath, who were down to 14 men at the time following the second yellow carding of Martin Flanagan after 48 minutes, protested furiously at the decision which was only confirmed by referee Aidan Mangan after he consulted both umpires.

To add to the visitors' anger Cork clinched their second victory of the campaign six minutes into added time when substitute Conor McCarthy added a final point.

Such an exciting climax hardly looked likely after Cork led by 0-8 to 0-3 at half-time on a pudding pitch and extended their advantage with early second-half points from Kevin McMahon and a glorious effort from captain and man of the match Graham Canty.

However, the switch which brought Westmeath dangerman Denis Glennon to the half forward line worked wonders as he almost single-handedly dragged the visitors back into contention.

Despite Flanagan's dismissal after tussling with Canty, who was also shown a yellow card, Westmeath dominated the rest of the game as Glennon, both from play and frees, scored five unanswered points to leave the outcome in the balance.

Cork were hanging on to a narrow 0-10 to 0-8 lead, having been held scoreless since the 44th minute, and they must have feared the worst when Alan Mangan cut the arrears to the minimum entering time added on.

Dolan, who was only introduced after 62 minutes, reckoned his kick from the left curled a couple of feet inside the far post only for the officials to rule otherwise.

CORK: A Quirke; D Duggan, G Canty (0-1), (capt), K O'Connor; N O'Leary, G Spillane, O Sexton; N Murphy, A O'Connor; J Miskella (0-2), K O'Sullivan (0-2), K McMahon (0-1); D Goulding (0-3, one 45, one free), M Cussen (0-1), D O'Connor. Subs: P Kelly for Cussen (54 mins), S O'Donoghue for O'Leary (60 mins), M Harrington for O'Sullivan (62 mins), C McCarthy (0-1) for Miskella (69 mins).

WESTMEATH: G Connaughton (capt); F Boyle, K Gavin, J Keane; M Ennis, D Heavin, D Healy; D Duffy, M Flanagan (0-1); D Kelly, A Mangan (0-2), D O'Donoghue; M Green, T Cleary, D Glennon (0-6, four frees). Subs: G Dolan for Green injured (26 mins), P Bannon for Cleary (43 mins) D Bannon for Kelly (46 mins), D Dolan for P Bannon (62 mins).

Referee: A Mangan (Kerry).