Westmeath hit 1-4 without reply in the closing quarter of an hour at Croke Park to see off Cavan and write themselves into the history books as the first ever winners of the inaugural Tailteann Cup.

Kieran Martin’s goal on 67 minutes propelled Jack Cooney’s men to a 2-14 to 1-13 triumph at headquarters, where Cavan were forced to play the closing 12 minutes with 14 men after midfielder Thomas Galligan picked up a straight card for a reckless challenge on Ronan O’Toole.

Favourites coming into this inaugural decider, the Breffni men had led for large portions of the first-half and were 0-8 to 0-6 in front off the back of two Gearoid McKiernan points (1 free) when the victors’ landed their first hammer blow.

It saw Lorcan Dolan rifling into the top corner of the Blues’ net seven minutes before the break and from there Westmeath would take in a 1-8 to 0-9 interval lead.

The start second-half was much cagier than the first’s entirety and Cavan did eventually get back within one before sub Martin Reilly broke possession into Padraig Faulkner’s path in the square and the Kingscourt clubman did the rest for three points.

Westmeath captain Kevin Maguire lifts the Tailteann Cup ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Points from Gerard Smith and the deadly accurate Paddy Lynch quickly followed to make it 1-13 to 1-10 in the Ulster men’s favour with 15 minutes to go, but they’d lose Galligan red card just minutes late.

The Lake men put the pressure on after that and, after hitting three points on the trot, substitute Martin burst through the centre for their second goal with four minutes remaining.

It rocked Cavan and they be denied a second goal of their own in injury-time thanks to a sensational block from Kevin Maguire and the game’s dying stages saw Ronan Wallace punching over the point that put a seal on victory.

Now in the history books, Westmeath are guaranteed a place in group phase of the All-Ireland senior football championship next year.

Watch the Full-Time Highlights of Cavan v Westmeath in the Tailteann Cup Final here on #GAANOW pic.twitter.com/nHabX2BiCh

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 9, 2022

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