Toomevara's Eoin Brislane made an immediate impact for his adopted Meath - scoring three vital points in their NHL win at the Eire Og grounds in Carlow.
Brislane was introduced to the game at half-time, when the visitors were in deep trouble, trailing 2-9 to 1-4 to the home county.
Carlow finished with 14 men - centre forward Robert Foley sent off in the final minute for a second yellow card offence.
SCORERS - Meath: M Cole 1-11 (1-0 pen, 0-8 from frees); E Brislane 0-3; S Clynch 0-2; G O'Neill, P Durnin 0-1 each. Carlow: B Lawler 0-7 (all frees); S Murphy, S Kavanagh (both frees) 1-1 each; R Coady, J Coady, R Dunbar 0-1 each.