An injury-time goal from Barry Kennedy earned Westmeath a deserved draw with Down in this Division 2A game at Ballygalget. The visitors opened brightly with Andrew Mitchell and Derek McNicholas notching early points. But a depleted Down side hit back with five unanswered points to put themselves firmly in the driving seat.

A brilliant Brendan McGourty goal stretched the home side's lead and although Andrew Mitchell and Johnny McGrattan exchanged points on three occasions, Westmeath had the final say of the first half when the impressive Kennedy set up Daniel Carty for a goal to leave the sides level at 1-8 each at the interval.

Mitchell edged Westmeath in front on the restart before points from McGrattan and Martin Coulter put Down five clear. However, points from Kennedy and Mitchell reduced the deficit before Kennedy grabbed his equalizing goal in the first minute of injury-time.

Down
Graham Clarke, L Clarke, S Murray, P Hughes, S Wilson 0-2, G Savage, Gabriel Clarke, A Savage, T McMahon, G McGrattan 0-2, J Convery, E Trainor, M Coulter 0-2, J McGrattan 0-6, B McGourty 1-2.

Subs:
E Clarke for E Trainor, M Braniff for L Clarke

Westmeath
M Briody, D Gallagher, B Murtagh, P Greville, D Curley, C Murtagh, D McCormack, A Mitchell 0-6, B Connaughton, D McNicholas 0-2, V Bateman, P Clarke, B Kennedy 1-4, J Shaw, D Carty 1-0.

Subs:
O Devine for B Connaughton, D Conway for D Carty, J Fegan for D Curley, J Forbes for D McNicholas, P Williams for P Clarke

Referee
F Smith (Meath)