Westmeath stayed with the Galway champions up to the end game in Cusack Park on Sunday.
"That's where we're at"
Dessie Dolan believes Westmeath's footballers now belong at the top level of the game after watching his side go down to a narrow defeat against Galway on Sunday.
The Lake County led at the break by a point, and were in the contest until a breakaway Shane Walsh goal in the closing minutes finally secured the Connacht champions victory.
The final score was 1-12 to 0-11.
Westmeath can still make the knockout stages of the Sam Maguire series if they beat Mickey Harte's Derry in just under two week's time.
Dolan says the four point loss is painful, but his side are resolved to prove their worth:
Galway boss Pádraic Joyce says he's relieved to get out of Mullingar with a win:
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