Just a point separated Galway and Westmeath at the end of a scintillating contest in Mullingar: 2-13 to 2-12 in favour of the Tribesmen.

All four goals arrived during a riveting opening period which ended with the teams deadlocked on 2-6 apiece. The scores dried up thereafter but the second half was every bit as fascinating as the first.

Both sides went into this match having won their opening Division Two encounters last weekend and a draw looked on the cards as the final whistle loomed but Kevin Walsh's men - inspired by full forward Patrick Sweeney, who grabbed 1-5 - held on for the narrowest of wins.

Sweeney notched 1-1 inside the opening four minutes as the visitors raced into a 1-2 to no score advantage but captain Ger Egan's goal had the Lake County right back in contention as they drew level at 1-3 apiece.

In an amazing first half, Sweeney also won the Galway penalty which was slotted past Darren Quinn by Shane Walsh to make it 2-5 to 1-3 (Danny Cummins and Paul Varley having pointed) but the hosts moved ahead with a Kieran Martin goal and points from John Heslin (2) and Callum McCormack. Cummin's second ensured parity at the short whistle.

The first six points after the resumption were shared before Galway kicked for home with scores from Michael Martin and Sweeney to lead by 2-11 to 1-9 after 57 minutes. Try as they might, the hosts couldn't get back on terms again and they were left feeling down and out when Heslin's effort for an eighth point of the game from a late free from out the pitch rebounded off an upright and with that went their last chance.

Galway - TJ Forde; D Kyne, C Forde, C Sweeney; P Varley (0-1), G Bradshaw, G O'Donnell (0-1); F O Curraoin, T Flynn; S Denvir (0-1), S Walsh (1-0pen), E Tierney; D Cummins (0-3), P Sweeney (1-5), A Varley (0-1). Subs: M Breathnach for TJ Forde, E Hoare for E Tierney, F Hanley for C Forde, M Martin (0-1f) for S Walsh, C Mulryan for A Varley.

Westmeath - D Quinn; M McCallon, K Maguire, J Gilligan; J Gonoud, K Martin (1-1), J Dolan; K Daly, P Sharry; C McCormack (0-2), G Egan (1-0), D Daly; R Connellan, J Heslin (0-7, 6f), L Smith (0-1). Subs: D Lynch (0-1) for J Gilligan, D Glennon for R Connellan, P Holloway for D Lynch, J Connellan for L Smyth, D Whelan for J Dolan, A Coffey for J Connellan.

Referee - C Reilly.

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