Offaly 2-7

Westmeath 0-12

A late Ciaran Farrell free proved decisive as the Offaly U21 footballers withstood Westmeath's comeback at O'Connor Park to advance to the Hastings Cup final.

Former senior boss Emmet McDonnell's return to the Faithful with his native county ended in disappointment as the tricolours held on to secure a place in the final against Cavan, who also enjoyed a narrow win over Longford on Friday night.

Goals from Jamie Evans and Ruairi McNamee helped the winners to a 2-3 to 0-5 half-time lead. Two Robbie Hickey points narrowed the gap on the restart, but Westmeath couldn't regain parity. Farrell's injury-time free edged Offaly two ahead before Hickey replied with a similar score at the other end.

But it was a case of too little, too late for the Lake County, whose unbeaten start to 2016 has come to an end.

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