Westmeath claim Tailteann title as Cavan disappoint

Tailteann Cup final

Westmeath 2-14

Cavan 1-13

Paul Fitzpatrick at Croke Park

Westmeath made history by winning the inaugural Tailteann Cup with an impressive win over an out-of-sorts Cavan at Croke Park.

When Cavan moved three points clear with 12 minutes remaining, they were very much in the box seat but, down to 14 men after the sending off of Thomas Galligan, Cavan’s challenge wilted and Westmeath came up with an unanswered 1-4, which decided the game. In the end, Cavan could have no complaints.

There was little between the sides in the opening half, at the end of which Westmeath held a slender but deserved two-point lead, 1-8 to 0-9.

The Lakesiders, who came into the game as underdogs, were finding space in attack much easier though; on several occasions, they breached the Breffni rearguard and they created a couple of goal chances, Lorcan Dolan taking one with a superb finish seven minutes before the break.

At the other end, Cavan found themselves confronted by a wall of bodies and the resulting lateral, keep-ball approach lacked urgency and pace.

Cavan started well. From the throw-in, Killian Clarke won a free, Ray Galligan took it short and Gerry Smith fired over.

Paddy Lynch, Cavan’s best attacker on the day, powered past a defender and opened his account. At the other end, Westmeath were in for a goal opportunity but Ronan Wallace’s handpass was over-cooked and they had to settle for a point from the outstanding Ronan O’Toole.

Oisin Kiernan curled over a trademark left-footed effort which O’Toole cancelled out before John Heslin, whose threat was nullified by Killian Brady, levelled the game with a 45-metre free.

Heslin nudged Westmeath in front; Cavan then tore back the lead through James Smith and Gerry Smith but the sides were tied for the third time by Man of the Match O’Toole.

Gearoid McKiernan and O’Toole, in acres of space, both registered to level the match yet again.

Two from McKiernan (one free and one lovely effort after Cavan pinched the resulting kick-out) made it 0-8 to 0-6 but Westmeath soon hit the jackpot at the other end when O’Toole and Luke Loughlin combined to tee up Dolan, whose side-footed finish was perfection.

Westmeath’s tails were up. A Heslin free and a Loughlin point, after he skipped past Conor Moynagh, put three between them before Lynch had the final say of the half with a beautiful score from the left corner.

The early stages of the second half were cagey. Youngster Sam McCartan converted a 45; sub Stephen Smith then curled in a brilliant effort to get Cavan going again.

Both sides traded wides as the attritional nature of proceedings continued. Jason McLoughlin and Loughlin – after a short kick-out was turned over – registered. Cavan had looked flat all day but they managed to summon up what looked like the match-winning salvo when Padraig Faulkner latched on to a break from James Smith and palmed home a goal, which was quickly followed by quality points from Gerry Smith and Lynch.

However, the scores dried up and Cavan would add no more to their tally. The loss of Galligan to a straight red card was a blow and Westmeath pushed on.

McCartan and O’Toole scored; Cavan struck two wides before McCartan pounced for another. And the decisive score arrived when a Martin Reilly handpass was intercepted, Westmeath poured forward and Kieran Martin waltzed through before planting a great finish to the roof of the net.

Cavan had a late chance but sub Conor Madden’s effort was blocked by Kevin Maguire and Ronan Wallace bombed forward for the insurance point.

Cavan: Raymond Galligan, Jason McLoughlin (0-1), Padraig Faulkner (1-0), Killian Brady, Oisin Kiernan (0-1), Killian Clarke, Conor Brady, Thomas Galligan, James Smith (0-1), Gerard Smith (0-3), Gearoid McKiernan (0-3, 1f), Conor Moynagh, Niall Carolan, Paddy Lynch (0-3), Cian Madden

Subs: Stephen Smith (0-1) for C Madden (ht), Martin Reilly for C Brady (51 mins), Luke Fortune for C Moynagh (66), Cormac O’Reilly for K Brady (70), Conor Madden for K Clarke (70)

Westmeath: Jason Daly, Jack Smith, Kevin Maguire, Jamie Gonoud, James Dolan, Ronan Wallace (0-1), Sam Duncan, Jonathan Lynam, Ray Connellan, Sam McCartan (0-3, one 45), Ronan O’Toole (0-5), David Lynch, Luke Loughlin (0-2), John Heslin (0-3, 2f), Lorcan Dolan (1-0)

Subs: Ger Egan for J Lynam (58 mins), Kieran Martin (1-0) for L Dolan (60), Alex Gardiner for Loughlin (70)

Ref: Barry Cassidy (Derry)