Westmeath pull off stunning extra-time comeback to edge Cavan

Kevin O'Sullivan scored a decisive goal for Westmeath as they came back in extra time to beat Cavan in a thrilling All-Ireland SFC tie

Kevin O'Sullivan scored a crucial extra-time goal for Westmeath in their victory over Cavan. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

All-Ireland SFC round 1: Westmeath 1-31 Cavan 3-21 (after extra time) 

Fresh from lifting the Delaney Cup for only the second time, Westmeath proved they are worthy Leinster standard-bearers with a pulsating four-point win over Cavan after extra time, in front of a capacity crowd of approximately 12,000 in Mullingar.

After a couple of earlier misses, Westmeath took the lead in the fifth minute courtesy of a great two-pointer from midfielder Brían Cooney. They increased this when Brandon Kelly pointed neatly some three minutes later. 

However, Cavan, under the tutelage of last year’s Westmeath manager Dermot McCabe, were on level terms by the 12th minute via a point from play by the ever-threatening Emmanuel Shehu and a two-point free from Paddy Lynch – he had missed from a similar range in the seventh minute.

Kelly (a fisted score) and Shehu (a classy score) traded points, as did Shane Corcoran (at the end of a great move) and Ryan Donohoe, sandwiched between which the home team spurned the only half-chance of a goal in the first half. 

Mark McHugh’s men, who were significantly quicker on the counterattack than their opponents, took control between the 22nd and 27th minutes, firing over five unanswered points from the boots of Kelly, Matthew Whittaker, Sam McCartan (a great two-pointer), and team captain Ronan Wallace (a delightful finish). Conor Brady reduced the deficit with a fisted point, before Conor Dillon and Senan Baker (with his fist after a technical foul) pointed to leave the Leinster champions ahead by 0-12 to 0-6 at the interval.

Westmeath had a major let-off a minute after play resumed when half-time sub Darragh Lovett hit the post with a goal at his mercy. The Lake County made the most of this by rattling over three unanswered points via McCartan (a free), Baker and Wallace. Tiarnan Madden kicked three points from frees at the other end – the first of them a two-pointer – before full back Charlie Drumm came forward to kick an inspirational point for the home team.

In the 47th minute, Lynch found the net at the end of a fine move to leave his team trailing by 0-16 to 1-9. A routine free conversion by McCartan preceded a free from Madden and a great two-pointer from sub Conor Casey, and when sub Dara McVeety – who was unable to start despite being selected – pointed, the gap was down to the bare minimum.

Westmeath looked to have regained the initiative with points from Dillon, Kelly and sub Robbie Forde to go four clear (0-20 to 1-13). However, a Lynch free and a tapped goal from Paddy Meade (after Lovett’s third goal attempt had come back off the crossbar) tied up the scoring. Points from Whittaker and Kelly appeared to be enough but Casey kicked a great two-pointer to tie up the scoring again. John Heslin, who had been introduced to a great ovation in the 53rd minute, was unable to win the game from a long-range free with time almost up, leaving the scoreboard reading at the hooter: Westmeath 0-22 Cavan 2-16.

The rain came down at the start of extra-time. Points from sub Jack Duncan and Heslin edged Westmeath ahead but Cavan looked to have sealed an unlikely win with a brace of two-pointers from Lovett, either side of a goal from McVeety from close range. A Lynch free put the Breffni men 3-21 to 0-24 ahead at half-time in extra-time.

However, there was a massive spirit in this Westmeath squad and McHugh was dancing with delight on the sideline as his troops whittled away at the six-point deficit. Two-pointers from Baker and Wallace were followed by a single point from Kelly (his sixth from play) to leave the gap at just one. Then up popped Kevin O’Sullivan to find the net with three minutes remaining as the huge home following roared with delight. Two routine free conversions from Heslin sealed a famous win.

Scorers – Westmeath: B Kelly 0-6, R Wallace (1 2pt), S Baker (1 2pt), S McCartan (1 2ptf, 2f) 0-4 each, K O’Sullivan 1-0, J Heslin 0-3 (2f), M Whittaker, C Dillon, B Cooney (2pt) 0-2 each, J Duncan, S Corcoran, R Forde, C Drumm 0-1 each.

Cavan: P Lynch 1-4 (1 2ptf, 2f), D McVeety 1-1, T Madden 0-4 (1 2ptf, 2f), D Lovett (2 2pt), C Casey (2 2pt) 0-4 each, P Meade 1-0, E Shehu 0-2, Conor Brady, R Donohoe 0-1 each.

Westmeath: J Daly; D Scahill, C Drumm, T Baker; R Wallace, S Allen, M Whittaker; B Cooney, R Connellan; K O'Sullivan, S McCartan, C Dillon; S Corcoran, S Baker, B Kelly. 

Subs: R Forde for Corcoran (47), J Heslin for S Baker (53), J Duncan for Cooney (57), E McCabe for Allen (61), H Niall for Dillon (68), A Treanor for S Baker (start of e/t), S Baker for Whittaker (inj., 76), E McCabe for T Baker (80), I Martin for Scahill (inj., 89).

Cavan: L Brady; B Donnelly, B O'Connell, E Crowe; G Smith, Ciarán Brady, Conor Brady; J Tynan, P Meade; T Madden, R Donohoe, E Shehu; C McGovern, F O’Reilly, P Lynch.

Subs: D Lovett for McGovern (h-t), C Casey for O’Reilly (48), D McVeety for Donnelly (52), N Carolan for Crowe (58), Cormac Brady for Tynan (67), R Brady for Carolan (start of e/t), R Tobin for Shehu (start of e/t), P Corrigan for Ciaran Brady (85), N Carolan for Donohoe (85).

Ref: P Neilan (Roscommon).