Westmeath 3-11
Kildare 1-14

Westmeath's three-point victory at Newbridge gave under-fire manager Brian Hanley some breathing space and condemned Kildare to relegation.

Goals from Noel Conaty and Alan Devine boosted the visitors to a 2-2 to 0-0 lead after just eight minutes but the hosts overcame that slow start to claw their way back into contention and trailed by just two points at the halfway stage.

Three points from Bernard Deay saw the Lilwhites take over in pole position with 13 minutes left on the clock but Devine's second goal in the 60th minute helped the maroon and whites regain the initiative.

Both teams finished with 14 men after Kildare midfielder Willie Greene (red) and Ciaran Curley (two yellows) were sent off during the opening 35 minutes.

Westmeath - P Collins; P Fennell, T Doyle, D Fennell (0-1); G Greville, A Craig, P Reilly; C Curley, P Gilsenan; R Greville, D McNicholas (0-1), D Gavin; N Conaty (1-4), A McGrath (0-2), A Devine (2-1). Subs: N Kirby (0-2) for P Gilsenan, P Layde for D Fennell, L Varley for P Reilly.

Kildare - P Dermody; P Reidy, J Doran, N O Muineachain; E O'Neill, M Moloney, K Whelan; P Kennedy, W Greene (0-1); P Divilly (0-4), J O'Malley, B Deay (0-3); G Keegan (1-5), T Murphy, R Casey (0-1). Subs: B Cahill for Reidy, M Delaney for Casey, D Harney for O'Malley.

Referee - D O'Driscoll. Tweet

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