Both Pat Spillane and Joe Brolly were gushing in their praise of Westmeath in the RTE studio after the midlanders finally got the Meath monkey off their back.

Both pundits had written off the Lake County's chances when they trailed heavily at half-time, but they were quick to acknowledge the brilliance of men like John Heslin and Kieran Martin after an astonishing second half comeback by Tom Cribbin's men.

"I'm just thinking of my old late colleague Paidi (O Se)," Spillane said of his former Kerry team-mate who masterminded Westmeath's only Leinster SFC success 11 years ago.

"The spirit of Paidi was there today in Westmeath."

Commenting on Heslin's superb late goal which sealed Meath's fate, Spillane said: "That's the difference between winners and losers. When Meath got on top they didn't bury a team. That was ruthlessness from Westmeath.

"Westmeath in the second half had leaders all over the field. Meath had no leaders."

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