Luke Loughlin's individual total matches Antrim as Tailteann Cup co-favourites Westmeath send out message
Luke Loughlin booted 1-17, with 0-13 from play, as the Lakesiders saw off the Saffrons 4-24 to 1-17 in Mullingar.
Loughlin kicked five two-pointers as Westmeath took over in the second half, but for the opening 40 minutes it looked as if Antrim might cause an upset.
A pair of two-pointers from Dominic McEnhill and Patrick McBride launched them into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead after 12 minutes.
Two goals in as many minutes from brothers Sam and Danny McCartan put Westmeath on the front foot.
But Antrim hit back and when Kavan Keenan goaled after collecting a ball that came back into play off the upright, the visitors were just a point adrift.
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Then Loughlin took over — hitting a two-pointer and finding the corner of the net from a penalty.
Only a superb save from Michael Byrne kept it relatively close at half-time, 3-9 to 1-10.
Ronan Wallace hit the crossbar and Byrne strode forward to fire a two-point free over to reduce the gap further.
But for the last half-hour, Loughlin was mercurial and Westmeath surfed on his wave to record a comprehensive win.
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Matthew Whittaker hit a superb goal and Loughlin began firing over scores and bringing his colleagues into the game in equal measure, while Antrim faded out of it.
The main concern for Westmeath manager Dermot McCabe in advance of what should be a straightforward trip to London next weekend will be injuries to Brían Cooney and captain Wallace, who was a colossus at the heart of the defence.
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Another skipper, Mikey Bambrick, notched 2-4 as CARLOW travelled to Brewster Park and picked up the only away win of the weekend, claiming a 3-18 to 2-18 victory over FERMANAGH.
In an entertaining encounter where only five scores came from frees, the lively half-forward shot the first three scores, opening with a point before his low shot just about crept across the Fermanagh line.
John Murphy's explosive finish made it 2-2 to 0-3 to the visitors after 12 minutes, but a Conor Love penalty dragged the home side right back into the game.
John Phiri and Bambrick pushed Carlow five clear again before half-time but once play resumed, Darragh McGurn set up Joe McDade for another goal that kept the crowd on their feet.
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Luke Loughlin notched an astonishing 1-17 as his county won by a scoreline of 4-24 to 1-17
The home crowd would have felt they had momentum on their side when a run of points from Fionan O'Brien, Conor McGee and Josh Largo Ellis levelled matters with 15 minutes to go.
However, Carlow were not to be denied and they had one final push in the tank that got them over the line.
Kevin Murphy put the ball in the net only to have it ruled out for square ball, but there was no denying Bambrick as he fired in his second goal, backing up points from Ciarán Moran and Conor Crowley.
Fermanagh got back within one score and very briefly had an extra man due to Ross Dunphy's black card, but could not find the goal they needed.
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