Cavan gave it all in Mullingar. However, Westmeath had more with the stronge wind to win after extra-time.
Brian Cooney opened the scoring for Westmeath when he raised the orange flag after four minutes, Brandon Kelly followed it up a minute later fisting over.
Cavan got their opening score when Emmanuel Shehu fired over after nine minutes. Whereas, Paddy Lynch drew the side’s level with a well taken two-point free on 10 minutes.
A surging Matthew Whitaker run through the Cavan defence ended with a Brandon Kelly fisting a point. Cavan made life difficult for the hosts early on.
Cavan replied again. Emanuel Shehu with his second point of the evening after 14 minutes, the sides tied 0-4 to 0-4.
Westmeath started to showcase their attacking thereat with points from Shane Corcoran and Brandon Kelly either side of a Ryan Donohue score. The Cavan forward rescued a stray attempt from Paddy Lynch, to fist over.
Matthew Whitaker surged forward again from half-back to fire over for Westmeath before Sam McCarton raised another orange flag.
Westmeath got their fourth score in succession moments later, Ronan Wallace finding the target this time.
Conor Brady stopped the rot for Cavan, fisting over on 29 minutes. However, Westmeath came again with Conor Dillon and Senan Baker getting the final scores if the half for Westmeath.
Westmeath led by double scores at half-time, 0-12 to 0-6.
The hosts started strongest in the second-half with three unanswered points, through Senan Baker, Sam McCarton and Ronan Wallace.
Cavan hit back with two efforts from Tiarnan Madden who landed a two pointer along with a single score.
Charlie Drum responded for Westmeath off the back of Maddens brace but it was Cavan who had the next day when Paddy Lynch hit the back of the Westmeath net after 47 minutes.
Cavan continued their fightback as Tiarnan Madden was on target again before substitute Conor Casey collected the subsequent kick out. Casey landing a massive two-pointer as Cavan reduced the deficit back to two points.
Brandon Kelly, Conor Dillon and Robbie Forde were all on target for Westmeath who appeared to be taking control of proceedings before Cavan’s second goal came on 63 minutes.
Dara Lovett seen his effort rattle the crossbar before Paddy Meade timed his run to direct the ball to the Westmeath net, leaving the sides level.
A Matthew Whitaker fisted point along with a Brandon Kelly effort again gave the home side a two point advantage.
However, it was the substitute Conor Casey who stepped up with his second two pointer drawing the sides level.
Westmeath had the opportunity at the end of normal time to clinch the win, but John Heslin could not guide his effort over as the sides finished level after 70 minutes, Westmeath 0:22 to Cavan’s 2:16.
Cavan came storming out of the traps in the first period of extra-time.
Westmeath kicked the opening two scores of the extra-time period through Jack Duncan and John Heslin. However, that was as good as it got for the hosts in the first period.
A pair of Darragh Lovett two-pointers either side of a Darragh McVeeety goal, when he beat Jason Daly to a high and guiding the ball to the Westmeath net.
Paddy Lynch had the final say of the first period tapping over a simple free. Cavan led by six points at the end of the first period, 3:21 to 0:24.
Senan Baker and Ronan Wallace both kicked two-pointers before Brandon Kelly point brought the Cavan lead back to one.
A Kevin O’Sullivan goal 17 minutes into extra-time floored Cavan with a pair of John Heslin points sealing the victory. Westmeath running out four point winners, 1:31 to 3:21.
