Cavan gain revenge over Tailteann Cup conquerors Westmeath

In a rematch of last year's inaugural Tailteann Cup final, two of the favourites for promotion from Division 3 met in front of a big crowd in Mullingar, with Cavan deservedly avenging their defeat in that decider by an unflattering three-point margin.

Westmeath, now under the tutelage of one of their most iconic former players Dessie Dolan, had the aid of a useful wind in the first half, but they found scores very hard to come by despite going into a two-point lead by the 12th minute, courtesy of a converted free from John Heslin and a neat score from play by the returning Shane Dempsey, by which stage the home team had lost experienced defender Jamie Gonoud to injury.

Mickey Graham’s charges proceeded to kick the next four scores without reply via Oisín Brady and goalkeeper Raymond Galligan (both from frees), and Dara McVeety and Ryan O’Neill (both from play).

Shortly before the latter point, Heslin bore down on the Cavan goalmouth in the 27th minute, but his low shot was deflected to safety by corner-back Evan Finnegan. Ronan O’Toole, man of the match in the aforementioned Tailteann Cup final, opened his account in the 35th minute, but Martin Reilly rounded off first-half scoring with the last kick, leaving Cavan ahead by 0-05 to 0-03 at the interval.

McVeery doubled his account some 70 seconds after play resumed. Sam McCartan was black-carded in the 39th minute to add to Westmeath’s woes, and they looked set for a heavy defeat when Cavan added three points from Galligan (two great frees) and O’Neill (a mark).

However, great work by sub Luke Loughlin teed up Ronan Wallace for a slapped goal in the 56th minute and another sub, Lorcan Dolan, chipped in with a brace of opportunist points to leave the home team trailing by just