Cavan 1-08 Westmeath 1-03
Cavan kept their promotion dream alive - and in the process ended their goalless run - when they saw off Westmeath 1-08 to 1-03 in a poor contest at a blustery Breffni Park.
The crucial score arrived ten minutes into the second half as Brendan Fitzpatrick smashed home from close range.
From there on, Cavan, spurred on by Cian Mackey and Gearoid McKiernan, never looked in danger and they ran out comfortable five-point winners.
The hosts played a more attacking style than has been the case in the past and showed that they have made some progress in front of goal, with their attack - which had malfunctioned earlier on in the league - operating with some success as they picked up their third win in their first season back in Division 2.
The sides were level at the end of a slow-burner of a first half, during which the visitors played into a stiff breeze.
Cavan played without a sweeper and looked to make the most of the elements, but they struggled to make an impact on the scoreboard with a sticky Westmeath rearguard and a swirling breeze ensuring defences were on top.
While Cavan opened the scoring with a free from Niall McDermott in the fourth minute, Westmeath soon grabbed the initiative when they broke through for an excellently-taken goal.
Midfielder Paddy Holloway drove a high ball over the top and Kieran Martin galloped on to it, broke James McEnroe's tackle and blasted a fine finish to the net.
They moved three clear with a point from play by John Heslin but Cavan settled and got the scoreboard ticking again with frees from Martin Dunne and Martin Reilly.
They rounded off the first half scoring when McDermott curled in well after a super cross-field ball from Dunne to level matters at the break.
As the match wore on, it became clear that Westmeath were living on scraps up front and struggled to make use of whatever ball came their way.
Dennis Glennon looked lively on his introduction but still got little change from the disciplined home defence, where James McEnroe was outstanding.
Cavan completely dominated the opening 10 minutes of the second half and their superiority was rewarded when Martin Reilly slotted over a free before Fitzpatrick got on the end of a well-worked move to smash the ball to the roof of Gary Connaughton's net to make it 1-05 to 1-01.
That goal was, incredibly, Cavan's first of this league campaign, but they didn't kick on after it and Martin sold a dummy and fired over a super score at the other end to make it a three-point game again.
The same player added a free but Cavan steadied the ship with a neat point from play by Martin Dunne.
Midfielder Gearoid McKiernan took a pass from Reilly and curled in to send Cavan four clear, 1-07 to 1-03, with 14 minutes on the clock and seemingly cruising.
They played down the clock well and eventually extended their lead through McKiernan again, and their cause was helped when Jamie Gonoud was dismissed after picking up a black card having already been handed a yellow.
The closing stages were timid, with neither side looking likely to break through for another score. This suited the hosts, and Terry Hyland's side played within themselves as they held possession and tightened up at the back.
A win secured, they now travel to Páirc Tailteann for a local derby clash with Meath which, should they win and results elsewhere go their way, could yet see the Blues return to the top flight for the first time since the early 2000s.
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 McDermott (45 mins), J Farrelly for Gilsenan (53 mins), N Murray for R Flanagan (63 mins), T Hayes for Fitzpatrick (65 mins), J Brady for M Dunne (65 mins)
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, 1f), S Dempsey, C McCormack, L Smith
Sub: D Glennon for Smith (45 mins), D Duffy for Holloway (53 mins), D McCormack for Dempsey (66 mins)
Ref: J Henry (Mayo)
