Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney praised the resilience of his team, as they responded to their second straight penalty shootout Ulster final loss with a five-point win over Westmeath on Saturday evening.

A much improved second half display helped them to triumph 0-16 to 0-11 as they opened their All-Ireland group stage with a win.

And McGeeney was pleased with the response to their defeat by Donegal in the Ulster final a fortnight ago

“They’re a resilient bunch,” he said.

“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.”

McGeeney continued: “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.”