Westmeath manager Mark McHugh spoke of his “pure and utter relief” after his team came through a battle with Cavan in yesterday’s gripping All-Ireland SFC first round clash in Mullingar.

After the Leinster champions had led by as many as nine points early in the second-half, the visitors battled back to force extra time and went up by six points by the end of the first added period with the help of Dara McVeety’s goal.

However, the Lake men got motoring again thanks to two-pointers from Senan Baker and Ronan Wallace, with Kevin O’Sullivan’s goal and two frees by John Heslin eventually putting a seal on the thrilling 1-31 to 3-21 victory.

"Relief," McHugh told RTÉ Sport when asked for his primary emotion after what was a thrilling game. "Energy has been built up the past two weeks.

"Those guys (Westmeath players) have got themselves into a position where they can be very proud. After the Leinster final, we felt there was a bit more in us. We knew Cavan were coming down for an ambush, no doubt about it. We played well in patches throughout the game.

"We got to extra-time and it’s pure and utter relief. I thought the game was gone in a period there in that first half, but with two-pointers, it’s only three points (three two-pointers).

"We said at half-time we would get shooters on the field and we got shooters on the field. We finished it out and there was only one team in that second-half.

"We are in the winner’s pot now and that is exactly where we want to be."

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