Ennis seals comeback

Westmeath 0-13 Limerick 1-9: A point in the second minute of injury-time by Michael Ennis earned 14-man Westmeath a dramatic victory over Limerick in a rousing qualifier at Cusack Park on Saturday.

Limerick missed the chance to force extra-time when a last-gasp free from a difficult angle was sent wide by substitute Johnny Murphy, but they will wonder how they lost this game.

Limerick were totally dominant in the first half and led 1-5 to 0-1 after 20 minutes. At half-time, they were three points in front (1-6 to 0-6), but could have been out of sight - goalkeeper Gary Connaughton twice denying them goals.

And, trailing 1-8 to 0-8, the midlanders looked in real trouble when substitute James Davitt was sent off in the 56th minute with a straight red card for a high challenge on Michael Crowley.

Muiris Gavin converted the resulting free, but Limerick failed to score for the remainder of the contest as the home side produced a spirited response.

A superb long-range point by Alan Mangan lifted Westmeath and, in the final minute of normal time, Donal O'Donoghue claimed the equaliser. The home crowd went into raptures when Ennis shot the winner.

WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; F Boyle, B Nannery, J Keane; M Ennis (0-2), D O'Donoghue (0-1), G Glennon; D Duffy, D O'Shaughnessy; G Duffy, D Healy, A Mangan 0-3 (one free); J Fallon (0-1, free), D Dolan (0-5, four frees), D Glennon. Subs: J Connellan (0-1) for Fallon (inj 37 mins); D Heavin for G Duffy (half-time); J Davitt for Nunnery (half-time); J Durkan for Connellan (inj 73 mins).

LIMERICK: S Kiely; S Gallagher, J McCarthy, P Browne; A Lane, S Lavin, C Mullane; J Galvin, T Carroll; J Cooke, D Horan (0-1), S Buckley; M Crowley, M Gavin (0-6, four frees), M Reidy (1-2, one '45'). Subs: J Murphy for M Reidy (53 mins); D Reidy for Crowley (66); J Stokes for Gavin (69).

Referee: P McGovern (Galway).