WESTMEATH sit top of Division Three alongside Down following their six-point victory, 1-13 to 0-10, over Leinster rivals Wicklow at Aughrim.
Kieran Martin netted the game’s only goal 15 minutes in, which helped to set the tone for the game as the visitors eventually took a 1-5 to 0-4 lead in with them at half-time.
Wicklow stormed out of the blocks after the turnaround with substitute Jack Kirwan walloping an effort off the bottom of the post and JP Nolan firing over to leave it 1-5 to 0-5 in the visitors’ favour.
Oisín McConville’s side created another goalscoring chance moments later only for corner-back Malachy Stone to see his shot saved superbly by Jason Daly.
Westmeath then added the next four scores through Kieran Martin (free), the excellent Senan Barker, Ronan O’Toole and Barker from a free to make it 1-9 to 0-5 after 18 minutes of the second-half and Wicklow playing against the wind.
Although the Garden county continued to scrap in what was a messy game, the points of Danny McCartan saw Westmeath comfortably maintain their 100 per cent record in the division.
Sligo sit on four points alongside Antrim, just outside the promotion places, thanks to a five-point victory over Limerick at Rathkeale, winning 1-12 to 0-10.
Paul McNamara got the Yeatsmen’s goal in the run up to half-time and they never looked in any danger of relinquishing their lead as they condemned the Treaty county to a third loss on the trot.
Offaly remain without a win in the new season as they let a promising lead slip against Clare in O’Connor Park, Tullamore to go down to a 2-10 to 1-12 loss.
Anton Sullivan’s goal gave the hosts a commanding 1-10 to 0-4 advantage with 17 minutes of the second half played, but this was prior to a Ciaran Downes penalty giving the visiting Bannermen hope.
Points from Emmet McMahon and Diarmuid O’Donnell (two) kept the heat on the Leinster side and, on the 70-minute mark, disaster struck as they conceded another Downes goal ahead of points from Cormac Murray and Daniel Walsh that sealed Clare’s comeback.
Things don’t get any easier for Offaly as they travel to Newry on Saturday to take on promotion favourites Down, while Clare host Wicklow in Ennis the following day.
Also on Sunday, Westmeath will look to tighten their grip on a top-two spot when they take on Limerick in Mullingar, while promotion outsiders Antrim and Sligo face off at Markievicz Park.
