In Dovida Lakepoint Park on Friday evening, after a rescheduling due to poor weather and unplayable pitches, Kenny McKinley’s men got their campaign underway.
Louth, who featured seven of the side who started in last year’s Leinster final dominated the first half as Westmeath struggled to work up their scores.
Adam Gillespie (free) and Conor McGinty stretched the Louth lead to six, before Westmeath opened up their account through Tyrrellspass’ player Neale Pearson.
Louth’s Andrew O’Reilly swapped points with James McHugh (free) for Westmeath, before the Wee county added a quick-fire 1-1 to take a 2-5 to 0-2 lead into the break.
Having pointed from close range moments earlier, Seán Flynn turned provider for Shane Lennon to maraud through the Westmeath defence for Louth’s second goal.
Cillian McQuillan (free) then stretched Louth’s lead to 13 points. However, Westmeath did not throw in the towel, as they began to kick more directly into the inside line, moving Mullingar Shamrocks man Donnacha Maguire from midfield into edge of the square.
They did get a second goal through sub Seán Whittaker, after his two-point effort looped into the net, while Taylor Slevin converted a ’45.
Westmeath’s Maguire, who was denied by Louth goalkeeper Tiernan Markey earlier, slapped home a second goal late on, and Matthew Thornton and sub Brian Ronan added points, but there was no doubt about the outcome here as Louth won out by 11 at the finish.
Final Score; Louth 3-13 Westmeath 2-05
SCORERS
Westmeath: D Maguire, S Whitaker 1-0 each; J McHugh (f), M Thornton, N Pierson, T Slevin (’45) and B Ronan 0-1 each.
Louth: S Lennon 2-1; A Gillespie 0-4 (1 2p, 2f); P Grimes-Murphy 1-1; T Devanney 0-3; C McQuillan (f), C McGinty A O’Reilly, S Flynn 0-1 each.
WESTMEATH: J Mitchell; T Slevin, C Whitney, A Glynn; T Masterson, C Daly, B Doyle; D Maguire, C Ormsby; N Pierson, M Weir, M Thornton; J McHugh, K Connell, W Scahill. Subs: P Keegan for Doyle (26), B Sheerin for Whitney (h-t), S Whitaker for Pierson (35), H Duncan for Weir (42), B Ronan for McHugh (49).
LOUTH: T Markey; M McGlew, M Reid, D Craven; D Skinnader, C McKeown, T Devanney; C Hackett, C McGinty; A O’Reilly, S Lennon, P Grimes-Murphy; A Gillespie, S Flynn, C McQuillan. Subs: T McDonnell for McQuillan (42), C Spaight for O’Reilly (54), E McCoy for Grimes Murphy (56), D McArdle for Lennon (58)
REF: K Olwell (Meath)
