Westmeath got off to a dream start at Casement Park but it was the home side that came away with the spoils in this All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round One clash.
Both sides were dealt a blow before the game when Lake County legend Dessie Dolan and Saffron sharpshooter Paddy Cunningham were scratched from their respective starting line-ups at the last minute.
Pat Flanagan's men were four points up after just a couple of minutes thanks to a James Dolan goal and a John Heslin point but the Ulster outfit hit the next three scores with Conor Murray getting a brace to close the gap to the minimum margin by the 12th minute.
Brendan Herron's point on 19 minutes drew Antrim level as they began to take control of the game and ten minutes later they were four points to the good thanks to captain Kevin O'Boyle's effort.
Having waited 27 minutes, the visitors finally put another score on the board - James Heslin obliging to leave the score 0-8 to 1-2 and Brendan Murtagh's effort on the stroke of half-time meant the Leinster side trailed by just two points at the break.
Dolan's introduction gave the Lake County the boost they required up front but even the Garrycastle clubman could not swing this tie in his sides favour as points by Herron, Cunningham, who was also introduced, and Tony Scullion sealed a 0-16 to 1-07 victory for Liam Bradley's troops.