Carlow will have Division 1B hurling to look forward to next year after they proved too strong for 13-man Westmeath in a stop-start Division 2A decider at Nowlan Park.

Carlow 1-14
Westmeath 0-12

Substitute Martin Clowry's goal three minutes from time finally ended the Westmeath challenge after they had Paul Greville and John Gilligan sent off in the final quarter. Former dual star Greville was sent off on a second yellow card with 14 minutes remaining for a high challenge on Alan Corcoran, while Gilligan was dismissed on a straight red with seven minutes remaining following an off-the-ball incident.

Carlow led 0-6 to 0-4 at the end of a poor first half, but with Brendan Murtagh and minor star Niall O'Brien in fine scoring form, Westmeath battled back to trail by the minimum by the 50th minute.

However, the Barrowsiders then hit a purple patch which yielded scores from Paudie Kehoe (two), Andrew Gaule and Daryl Roberts to open up a five-point lead. Westmeath closed the gap again before Clowry's late strike put the result beyond doubt.

Carlow - F Foley; A Corcoran, E Nolan, D Shaw; J Corcoran, S Kavanagh (0-3), E Coady; J Kavanagh (0-1), R Coady; E Byrne, J Kane, C Doyle (0-2); P Kehoe (0-3), A Gaule (0-2), M Kavanagh (0-2). Subs: D Roberts (0-1) for Kane, J Rogers for R Coady, M Brennan for M Kavanagh, R Smithers for Gaule, M Clowry (1-0) for Rogers.

Westmeath - S McGovern; C Jordan, A Price, P Fennell; P Dowdall, J Gilligan, P Gilsenan; A Clarke, J Clarke; P Greville, B Murtagh (0-5), D McCormack (0-2); N O'Brien (0-5), J Shaw, D Carty. Subs: R Greville for Shaw, D Fennell for Carty, A McGrath for Dowdall.

Ref - C Lyons (Cork). Tweet

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