Cavan kept their slim promotion hopes alive with a 1-8 to 1-3 win against Westmeath at blustery Breffni Park.

The result means the Breffni County could yet sneak promotion to the top flight if they beat Meath next weekend and results elsewhere go their way; but it's sink or swim time for the Lake County who are now in a real relegation dogfight.

Brendan Fitzpatrick supplied the winners' long-overdue major ten miniutes after the restart to propel them into a four-point lead, having hit 1-4 without reply, and they never looked back.

Niall McDermott's point from play ensured the hosts of parity at the interval, 0-4 to 1-1. The same player had opened the scoring from a free before the visitors stole ahead with a Kieran Martin goal.

John Heslin's point made it 1-1 to 0-1 but frees from Martin Dunne and Martin Reilly got Terry Hyland's men back into contention.

A Reilly free after the restart had the home team back in front and it was 1-5 to 1-1 when Fitzpatrick got on the end of a fine team move to register Cavan's first league goal of the year.

A brace from midfielder Gearoid McKiernan finished off the scoring and the losers were reduced to 14 men when Jamie Gonoud got a black card and then a red to add to his yellow.

Cavan - C Gilsenan; J McLoughlin, R Dunne, R Flanagan; J McEnroe, F Flanagan, D O'Reilly; T Corr, G McKiernan (0-2); D McVeety, N McDermott (0-2, 1f), M Reilly (0-2f); C Mackey, M Dunne (0-2, 1f), B Fitzpatrick (1-0). Subs: C Conroy for N McDermott, J Farrelly for C Gilsenan, N Murray for R Flanagan, T Hayes for B Fitzpatrick, J Brady for M Dunne.

Westmeath - G Connaughton; M McCallon, K Maguire, J Gonoud; K Daly, J Gilligan, J Egan; P Holloway, J Heslin (0-1); P Sharry, G Egan, K Martin (1-2, 0-1f); S Dempsey, C McCormack, L Smith. Subs: D Glennon for L Smith, D Duffy for P Holloway, D McCormack for S Dempsey.

Referee - J Henry.

Tweet

Most Read Stories