Tailteann Cup Final

Westmeath 2-14 Cavan 1-13

By Paul Keane at Croke Park

A thrilling Croke Park comeback, which climaxed with a late goal from substitute Kieran Martin, allowed Westmeath to etch their name in the GAA history books as the first ever Tailteann Cup champions.

Jack Cooney's side trailed by three points approaching the hour mark but closed out the game with an unanswered 1-4 to win in style and cap a terrific campaign.

Martin's 67th minute goal was a worthy gamebreaker as the ultra experienced Maryland man burst through the centre of Cavan's defence and fired a left footed rocket to the net.

That strike put Westmeath three points clear and they played a patient game in the remaining seven minutes or so, adding a stoppage time point from Ronan Wallace to seal a landmark four-point win.

Cavan had an opportunity to level the game in the 72nd minute but substitute Conor Madden's shot at goal was expertly blocked by Westmeath captain Kevin Maguire.

A clear turning point in the game was the 58th minute dismissal of Cavan's Thomas Galligan for a high challenge on Westmeath's Ronan O'Toole, the Man of the Match with five points from play.

Both sides made late alterations to their published lineups with Sam Duncan coming into the Westmeath team for Nigel Harte and Cavan's Niall Carolan replacing veteran Martin Reilly.

That required a reshuffling of bodies and positional switches in both teams with Duncan lining out in Westmeath's midfield next to Ray Connellan and Carolan playing in the Cavan defence.

The early matchups were intriguing; Carolan picking up Westmeath forward Lorcan Dolan and fellow Cavan defender Killian Brady on dangerman John Heslin who struck 0-3.

James Smith, wearing number nine for Cavan, started in their full-forward line and was picked up by Westmeath skipper Maguire while David Lynch, wearing number 12, was handed a man-marking job on Cavan centre-forward Gearoid McKiernan.

It was high quality fare from the off and the sides were level four times up to 0-6 apiece in an entertaining opening half.

O'Toole scored four of Westmeath's first six points and, similar to his strong start against Kildare at the same venue in the Leinster championship, was virtually unmarkable in this period.

Back to back McKiernan points for Cavan nudged the tournament favourites two points clear before they were hit with a body blow in the form of a Lorcan Dolan Westmeath goal.

O'Toole was centrally involved in the 28th minute major, the attacker cleverly holding up play on the left wing before arrowing a pass across the goal to Luke Loughlin who slipped but still got a pass away to Dolan who opened out his body and finished soccer style to the top corner.

Loughlin then pointed himself and punched the air in delight as Westmeath found themselves three points to the good.

A terrific half of football ended in suitable fashion with Cavan full-forward Paddy Lynch booming over a beauty from way out on the left wing to leave just two in it at half-time, 1-8 to 0-9.

Westmeath retained a two-point lead at the end of a humdrum third quarter before the game suddenly burst into life again.

This time it was all about Cavan who reeled off 1-2 without reply between the 53rd and 56th minutes to wrestle control of the game and put themselves in pole position.

Full-back Padraig Faulkner was the unlikely goalscorer when he pounced from close range after James Smith's ball in from the left broke down kindly to him.

Leading 1-13 to 1-10, it was Cavan's game to lose and, remarkably, they did just that with Galligan's 58th minute departure, following a straight red card for a high challenge on O'Toole, a critical juncture.

Westmeath took full advantage and strode to an impressive win that means they will be-pass next year's competition.

Scorers for Westmeath: Ronan O'Toole 0-5, Kieran Martin 1-0, Lorcan Dolan 1-0, John Heslin 0-3 (0-2f), Sam McCartan 0-2 (0-1 45) Luke Loughlin 0-2, Ronan Wallace 0-1.

Scorers for Cavan: Padraig Faulkner 1-0, Gearoid McKiernan 0-3 (0-1f), Gerard Smith 0-3, Paddy Lynch 0-3, Stephen Smith 0-1, Oisin Kiernan 0-1, James Smith 0-1, Jason McLoughlin 0-1

Westmeath: Jason Daly; Jamie Gonoud, Jack Smith, Kevin Maguire; Ronan Wallace, David Lynch, James Dolan; Ray Connellan, Sam Duncan; Sam McCartan, Ronan O'Toole, Jonathan Lynam; Luke Loughlin, John Heslin, Lorcan Dolan.

Subs: Ger Egan for Lynam 58, Kieran Martin for Lorcan Dolan 60, Alex Gardiner for Loughlin 70.

Cavan: Raymond Galligan; Niall Carolan, Killian Brady, Padraig Faulkner; Jason McLoughlin, Conor Moynagh, Conor Brady; Thomas Galligan, Killian Clarke; Oisin Kiernan, Gearoid McKiernan, Gerard Smith; James Smith, Paddy Lynch, Cian Madden.

Subs: Stephen Smith for Madden h/t, Martin Reilly for Conor Brady 51, Luke Fortune for Moynagh 66, Cormac O'Reilly for Killian Brady 71, Conor Madden for Clarke 71.

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).