On Saturday night they cut Derry’s advantage from four points to one in the run down the home straight, thanks to a run of three successive scores from subs.
And with Derry’s nerves jangling, and a draw enough for Westmeath to advance, they looked primed to push on.
However, Derry worked a goal late on and another big fish wriggled off the Westmeath hook as Derry ran out 2-7 to 0-9 winners.
Afterwards, manager Dessie Dolan insisted that across their six games in the All-Ireland series in his two seasons in charge, they deserved more.
“That’s six games now in this series and we got one draw,” said the former All-Star.
“If I was to talk to the lads I’d say I feel like in all of this we deserve more. But I’m proud of the fact that we can go toe-to-toe with these teams in every respect.
“In physicality, tactically, ability-wise, it’s just disappointing we didn’t get across the line.
“Overall across those six games in two periods in the All-Ireland I felt we deserved to get a win somewhere along the line.”
Dolan admitted that with Derry’s shaky form and all of the noise that had engulfed the side and Mickey Harte’s future, he had hoped they would be vulnerable.
Westmeath, though, trailed 1-5 to 0-5 at the break – a harsh scoreline given the nature of the first half.
“If I’m being honest, I’m very disappointed, I thought the game was there for us,” Dolan added.
They got the goal late on, but I felt that even the first goal we had decent momentum when that goal came against us at a crucial time, coming to half-time.
“I thought we were working our way back into it in the second half, the subs we introduced got a couple of scores, the momentum was good.
“Derry were vulnerable, if I’m being honest, but they got that break with the corner-back creating that overlap for the second time, which is disappointing.”
Emmett Bradley’s 65th-minute goal was the decisive and final score of the game.
Afterwards, Dolan and his players remained in the dressing room long after the final whistle.
Dolan wouldn’t be drawn on whether he will be at the helm for a third season while there was speculation locally that a number of senior players may call it a day.
“I was running out of the dressing room before they said anything to be honest,” Dolan said.
“Because they have been such valuable players for Westmeath over such a long period of time, so I’d say they will take some time to reflect on it. But certainly a lot of the lads have been massive servants to Westmeath.
“The lads are disappointed because we sensed an opportunity with Derry because they are vulnerable with everything that is going on.
“We felt we could compete against them and certainly for large parts we felt we matched them in every sector. The goals at the wrong time were the deciding factor.”
Derry were far from vintage in Newry. They were nervy and unconvincing, a shadow of the side that plundered Croke Park a couple of months ago.
However, they did enough and conceded just nine points. For context, they shipped nine goals across all eight games in their league campaign. Their season has a pulse.
Dolan also offered his backing to Derry manager Harte.
“To be honest, I probably felt they were still vulnerable in the performance they gave.
“Their execution probably wasn’t at the standard they expect themselves, they turned over the ball quite a bit.
“For them, if you are Mickey Harte it was ideal to get the win and kind of settle the ship a little bit and they have an opportunity then next week to get another win.
“So he’s back winning and in fairness I don’t know how he has listened to some of the stuff he has got. I think it has been a bit unfair.
“He has been an exceptional manager over such a long period of time and his personal situation as well, I think he’s an incredible man. I just felt sorry for him this week.”
