Westmeath’s Devine inspiration

WESTMEATH proved far too strongforDownin Drogheda’s Gaelic Grounds to maintained their 100pc record for the campaign.

The Lake County quickly raced into a 1-6 to 0-1 lead with David Devine getting the early goal.

Jack Dillon and Devine were dovetailing brilliantly and giving the Down defence all sorts of trouble, with the duo contributing the first ten scores between them for Westmeath.

The Lakemen continued to dominate in the second quarter and added a further goal through Danny McGrath to go in at the break 3-13 to 0-2 ahead.

Down briefly threatened to get back into the game early in the second half with a goal from full-forward Sean Hughes but Westmeath quickly shut the door on the Mourne men with three goals in quick succession from substitute Shane Williams.

The men in maroon closed out the game in style with a classy goal from the excellent Devine to rubber stamp a huge win.

SCORERS – Westmeath: S Williams 3-1; D Devine; J Dillon 2-5 each; D McGrath 1-1; C Egan 0-2; C Fenlon, J Coffey, L Moore, D Hickey 0-1 each. Down – S Hughes 1-0; L Hogan ; C Watson; K Coulter; I Hussein 0-1 each WESTMEATH – E Glennon; J Coffey, C McCormack, J Connon; E McCabe, F Brennan, C McClare; P Nangle, D Hickey; L Moore, C Egan, D Ennis; D Devine, J Dillon, D McGrath Subs: A McCormack for E McCabe (16 mins); S Williams for L Moore; S Cunningham for D Ennis (45 mins); C Fenlon for C McCormack (45 mins); C Fagan for E Glennan (55 mins).

DOWN – D Kelly; O O’Connor, C Lyons, R Smith; M Coulter, C Watson, L Boyd; C McMullen, K Coulter; P McCusker, C Murphy, L Hogan; E McGee, S Hughes, O Devlin Subs: I Hussein for T Murphy (H-T); N Hassan for Paul McCusker (45 mins)

Ref – S Guinan (Offaly)