Kieran McGeeney was delighted with how Armagh responded to their Ulster SFC final penalty shootout heartbreak against Donegal.

The Orchard County got their All-Ireland SFC campaign up-and-running with a 0-16 to 0-11 victory over Westmeath at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, a win that was far more comfortable than in last year’s corresponding fixture when they needed a late goal to avoid an upset.

“They’re a resilient bunch,” the Armagh manager told BBC NI.

“I suppose it’s about dealing with a lot of the noise that they get. Regardless of what people say, it has been hard to beat our team in big games, but they have, so each defeat is a hammer blow.

“Next week [against Derry] will be a test of how we react when things get tough. If we hit that penalty, everybody would say we’re a better team, and for a change I would be a genius.

“For the players it is hard to take. Rory Grugan, Aidan Forker, Rian O’Neill, they’re some of the best players in the country, there is no doubt about that.

“We have shown that we’re able to live with the top teams. These fellas need to get one over the line, to give them that wee bit of confidence. But we have games in front of us now that gives them that opportunity.”

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