WESTMEATH clinched their first ever Division 2A title with a 0-10 to 0-8 win over Carlow at Tullamore on Saturday.
The Lake county laid the groundwork for their success with a dominant first-half display, inspired by dead-ball specialist Brendan Murtagh, who finished the game with 0-7. Cormac Boyle and Eoin Price also kept the scoreboard ticking over as Westmeath went in at the break leading 0-9 to 0-3.
Murtagh’s seventh point in the 42nd minute proved to be Westmeath’s final score as Carlow piled on the pressure inspired by leaving cert student Kevin McDonald. The Mount Leinster Rangers clubman’s fourth pointed free in injury-time cut the margin to two points but Westmeath held on and will now face the loser of the play-off between Kerry and Laois for a place in Division 1B next year.
