Westmeath overcame the stubborn challenge of Carlow in the Kehoe Cup SH final at the St Loman's GAA Grounds, Mullingar, yesterday.

The visitors opened scoring with a Pat Coady point from a free in the first minute of play. The home side, though, swung the situation around to lead 0-4 to 0-1 midway through the first half.

Carlow's full-forward, Des Murphy, was sent off after 22 minutes and Westmeath raced into a 0-8 to 0-4 by half-time.

Westmeath quickly asserted their authority after the restart with three quick points and were 0-13 to 0-6 ahead early in the final quarter of play. The visitors, to their credit, never relented but Westmeath simply had too many answers for them and late points from Brendan Murphy, Barry Kennedy and Greg Gavin sealed victory.

Westmeath: S Reilly; M Murtagh, M Williams, B Murphy 0-1; B Williams, D McCormack 0-1, T Cunningham; P Williams 0-1, A Mitchell 0-2; P Clarke 0-1, O Devine, R Galvin; B Kennedy 0-3, S McLaughlin 0-4, F Shaw 0-2. Subs: J Gavigan 0-1 for Galvin, G Gavin 0-1 for P Clarke, M Scally for F Shaw , A Weir for A Mitchell

Carlow: P Fenlon; D Dunlon, T Doyle, P Keogh; F Byrne, C Jordan, M Farrell; R Foley 0-1, D Kavanagh 0-1; C Coady, P Coady 0-6, D Roberts; S M Murphy, D Murphy, B Lawlor. Subs: D Wall for C Coady, J O'Neill for B Lawlor.

Referee: P Neary, Kilkenny.