Wonderful Westmeath recovery denies Cavan in thriller

Westmeath 1-31 Cavan 3-21

Showing incredible spirit, Westmeath overturned a six-point deficit to conquer Cavan after extra-time in a gripping All-Ireland SFC contest before a capacity crowd of 12,000 supporters at TEG Cusack Park on Saturday.

It was Westmeath’s fifth successive championship victory, a new record for the county at this level, their third in succession after extra-time. In a thrilling contest, Westmeath had led by nine points after 41 minutes, but Cavan mounted a spirited comeback to score 2-10 in 29 minutes and force the game to extra-time. Their four-week preparation, fresh legs off the bench and almost complete control of midfield looked like defining factors even allowing for how much two-pointers have changed the game.

Reigning Leinster champions Westmeath looked in real danger of becoming the latest provincial winners to bow out when they trailed by six points (3-21 to 0-24) at the end of the first period of extra-time, but they found a new lease of life when play resumed. Backed by a useful breeze, a couple of superb two-pointers from Senan Baker and Ronan Wallace gave them serious momentum at a vital stage and the outstanding Kevin O’Sullivan swooped for a decisive goal with three minutes remaining, after John Heslin forced a turnover and sent Brandon Kelly clear. An unanswered 1-7 in the second period of extra-time gave Westmeath an incredible four-point victory.

It has been a remarkable season for Westmeath and manager Mark McHugh spoke of his relief at Saturday’s victory after a massive occasion for the county.

"Energy has been built up the past two weeks. Those guys (Westmeath players) have got themselves into a position where they can be very proud. After the Leinster final, we felt there was a bit more in us. We knew Cavan were coming down for an ambush, no doubt about it. We played well in patches throughout the game,” he remarked.

"We got to extra-time and it’s pure and utter relief. I thought the game was gone in a period there in that first half, but with two-pointers, it’s only three points (three two-pointers). We said at half-time we would get shooters on the field and we did. We finished it out and there was only one team in that second half. We are in the winners' pot now and that is exactly where we want to be."

His Cavan counterpart, Dermot McCabe, who last year was managing Westmeath with McHugh part of his backroom team, felt his side missed an opportunity in normal time.

"Towards the end of the 70 minutes, we probably had a lot of the flow of the game. That was probably our biggest chance. I know we did well in extra-time, our efficiency is still below 50%, but Westmeath are extremely accurate and got some very good scores," he observed. There was concern that Westmeath might struggle to reach the highs of their Leinster final display only two weeks previously, but they were the better team in the first half and led by 0-12 to 0-6 at half-time. Wallace’s point six minutes after the restart made it 0-15 to 0-6 in Westmeath’s favour and Cavan were struggling, but a goal by corner-forward Patrick Lynch in the 47th minute gave them renewed impetus and terrific two-pointers from Tiarnan Madden (free) and substitute Conor Casey got them right back into contention (0-18 to 1-13 after 56 minutes).

Westmeath, who had struggled badly to win primary possession at midfield, still had a four-point lead at the hour mark following a neatly executed point by sub Robbie Forde from an acute angle.

But Cavan had growing momentum and got their second goal when midfielder Paddy Meade finished from close range after sub Darragh Lovett struck the crossbar with a thundering effort, leaving it all square.

Westmeath were two clear with as many minutes remaining after the impressive Brandon Kelly fired over, but Casey struck a superb two-pointer to set up extra-time and a goal by sub Dara McVeety, plus a couple of two-pointers from Lovett, helped the Breffni men establish complete control.

Showing remarkable resolve and character, Westmeath turned the game on its head in the second period of extra-time, winning a greater supply of ball in the midfield sector as sub Jack Duncan made a big impact.

Two-pointers from Senan Baker and Ronan Wallace stirred the massive home support and the 16th man played its part. The psychological impact of those scores was very evident.

The irrepressible O’Sullivan popped up for the crucial goal and Westmeath saw it out with a couple of Heslin frees near the finish.

Scorers — Westmeath: B Kelly 0-6; S McCartan (1tp; 2f), S Baker (tp), R Wallace (1tp) 0-4 each; K O’Sullivan 1-0; J Heslin 0-3 (2f); M Whittaker, C Dillon, B Cooney (tp) 0-2 each; S Corcoran, C Drumm, R Forde, J Duncan 0-1 each. Cavan: P Lynch 1-4 (1tpf; 2f), D McVeety 1-1; T Madden (1tpf; 2f), D Lovett (2tp), C Casey (2tp) 0-4 each; P Meade 1-0; E Shehu 0-2; R Donohoe, Conor Brady 0-1 each.

Westmeath: Jason Daly; Daniel Scahill, Charlie Drumm, Conor Dillon; Tadhg Baker, Shane Allen, Matthew Whittaker; Brían Cooney, Ray Connellan; Kevin O'Sullivan, Sam McCartan, Ronan Wallace; Shane Corcoran, Senan Baker, Brandon Kelly. Subs: Robbie Forde for Corcoran (47), John Heslin for S Baker (53), Jack Duncan for Cooney (57), Eoghan McCabe for Allen (61), Harry Niall for Dillon (68), Adam Treanor for S Baker (start of e/t), Senan Baker for Whittaker (inj., 76), Eoghan McCabe for T Baker (80), Ian Martin for Scahill (inj., 89).

Cavan: Liam Brady; Barry Donnelly, Brían O'Connell, Evan Crowe; Gerard Smith, Ciarán Brady, Conor Brady; Jensen Tynan, Paddy Meade; Tiarnan Madden, Ryan Donohoe, Emmanuel Shehu; Caoimhan McGovern, Fionntán O’Reilly, Paddy Lynch. Subs: Darragh Lovett for McGovern (h-t), Conor Casey for O’Reilly (48), Dara McVeety for Donnelly (52), Niall Carolan for Crowe (58), Cormac Brady for Tynan (67), Ryan Brady for Carolan (start of e/t), Ryan Tobin for Shehu (start of e/t), Peter Corrigan for Ciarán Brady (85), Niall Carolan for Donohoe (85).

Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon).