Westmeath hit 1-6 without reply in the second half to record a 1-12 to 1-11 victory over Kildare in a poor match at Croke Park.

The result means the Lake County have qualified for successive provincial deciders for the first time, while their opponents fall haplessly into the Qualifiers.

Leading by 1-9 to 0-6 after 41 minutes, the losers didn't score again until Neil Flynn curled over a free on the stroke of full time. During that time, the winners hit 1-6 without reply, including an equalising goal from the boot of James Dolan in the 48^th minute.

This was a timid affair played in an eerie atmosphere and almost at walking pace, but Tom Cribbin's men won't mind a bit as they prepare to lock horns with either Dublin or Meath on July 17^th.

A superb Adam Tyrrell strike over the top of the packed Westmeath defence had Cian O'Neill's charges ahead by the odd point from 13 at the end of a low-key opening period.

Paul Sharry's classy point was the only good moment of a really poor opening five minutes, where both teams struggled to string two passes together. John Heslin's beautiful free doubled the gap but the Lilywhites were level when Fergal Conway arrowed a 13^th-minute shot over following a wonderful Flynn free from distance off the ground.

Heslin lobbed over another brace of frees and Sharry nonchalantly chipped over a '45' as the Lake men led by three after 20 minutes but Emmet Bolton - a late addition to the Kildare starting XV - and Niall Kelly pointed within seconds of one another before Bolton cancelled out a trademark Kieran Martin point - 0-6 to 0-5 after 25 minutes.

Wing back Johnny Byrne tied the scores up on 30 minutes, seconds after he had struck the woodwork, and Tyrrell's point, which edged Kildare ahead for the first time, was the last score of an error-strewn, lacklustre first half.

Flynn's easy free doubled the gap within 90 seconds of the restart and the Lilywhites moved six points clear when Eoghan O'Flaherty kicked a smashing point after goalkeeper Darren Quinn had inadvertently palmed the ball to his own net with Tommy Moolick looming as Flynn's attempt at a fisted point dropped dangerously short.

The Short Grass County had brought their scoring sequence to 1-4 without reply before Sharry hit back with the Lake County's first score in almost 20 minutes. Ray Connellan drilled over a brace to leave just the goal between them and the sides were level when Dolan fired the ball to the net at the Davin End in the 48^th minute.

Heslin's lovely free on 54 minutes meant Westmeath had struck 1-4 without reply and also meant they were back in front… Martin added another Westmeath point with 13 minutes left and substitute Callum McCormack made it 1-12 to 1-9 with 65 minutes played.

Substitute Cathal McNally had the ball in the back of the Westmeath net a minute from the end but the whistle had sounded for a free-out and a brace of last-gasp Flynn frees proved two little, two late for Kildare, who will be paired with either Longford, Fermanagh, Offaly or Limerick in tomorrow morning's 2B draw.

Westmeath - D Quinn; J Gonoud, K Maguire, K Daly; A Stone, F Boyle, J Dolan (1-0); G Egan, D Corroon; D Lynch, P Sharry (0-3, 1'45), R Connellan (0-2); K Martin (0-2), J Heslin (0-4f), J Connellan. Subs: C McCormack (0-1) for A Stone, J Egan for J Connellan, R Foley for R Connellan, R Gorman for K Maguire (BC).

Kildare - M Donnellan; P Kelly, D Hyland, O Lyons; J Byrne (0-1), E Doyle, C O'Donoghue; T Moolick (1-0), F Conway (0-1); E Bolton (0-2), M O'Flaherty, E O'Flaherty (0-1); A Tyrrell (0-1), N Kelly (0-1), N Flynn (0-4f). Subs: C McNally for A Tyrrell, K Murnaghan for E Bolton, C Healy for N Kelly (BC), C Fitzpatrick for C O'Donoghue, E Callaghan for E O'Flaherty, R Houlihan for J Byrne.

Referee - D O'Mahony.

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