Down earn a vital point which is of no use to Westmeath in Joe McDonagh Cup

Joe McDonagh Cup – Round 3: Down 3-19 Westmeath 1-25

Westmeath's Tommy Doyle got the equalising point

Down and Westmeath played out a hard-fought draw at McKenna Park on Saturday afternoon, a much-needed result for the Ardsmen, but it meant little to Westmeath, who have only one point from their three Joe McDonagh fixtures played.

A hat-trick of goals from Tom McGrattan and 0-13, nine from frees, by Pearse Óg McCrickard saved Down's skins as it was Westmeath who dominated the first half, with a goal from Killian Doyle giving them a 1-9 to 0-3 lead with 14 minutes on the clock.

Down responded, however, with a goal of their own from McGrattan and that seemed to settle them somewhat, with Westmeath's advantage cut to two points (1-15 to 2-10) following McGrattan's second maximum on 31 minutes.

Three points at the start of the second period from McCrickard gave Down the lead for the first time and McGrattan's completed hat-trick extended it with 43 minutes on the clock.

There was no shaking Westmeath, however, as they continued to take their points and there was nothing between the teams coming down the home straight.

The sides were level again, 3-17 to 1-23, with five minutes of normal time remaining, but after McGrattan hit a super score to nudge Down in front, McCrickard bagged another at a crucial time.

He converted again in stoppage time following a point from David O'Reilly to keep Down in front by the minimum, but Westmeath centre-back Tommy Doyle converted what turned out to be the last score of the game, leaving the teams level 3-19 to 1-25.

Scorers - Down: T McGrattan 3-2; P Óg McCrickard 0-13 (9f); P Savage 0-2; D Sands, D Hughes 0-1 each. Westmeath: K Doyle 1-7 (7f); D O'Reilly 0-5; D Williams 0-4 (2f); K Regan, C Doyle (f), D Clinton 0-2 each; T Doyle, A Clarke, O McCabe 0-1 each.

Down: S Keith; M Conlan, C Cassidy, D Mallan; C Taggart, R McCrickard, J McManus, D Hughes, L Savage; P Óg McCrickard, E Sands, T McGrattan; D Sands, F Turpin, T Prentar. Subs: P Savage for D Sands 15, T Murray for McManus 19, B Trainor for Mallon 35, P Sheehan for Turpin 67.

Westmeath: N Conaty; J Bermingham, T Doyle, C Gaffney; A Clarke, D Egerton, A Craig; P Clarke, K Regan; N Mitchell, D Williams, O McCabe; D O'Reilly, K Doyle, E Keyes. Subs: J Mulkearns for Conaty 10, C Doyle for Doyle 35, C McCormack for Clarke 49, D Clinton for Keyes 54, J Gillen for McCabe 67, J Smyth for C Doyle 70+2.

Referee: James Connors (Donegal).