Limerick paid the penalty for fielding without 12 regulars when Westmeath handed them an 18-point drubbing at Cusack Park, Mullingar yesterday.

The home team were 1-9 to 0-0 in front after 25 minutes. Limerick didn't score until PJ Garvey pointed in the 26th minute.

Michael Reidy followed with Limerick's only other point of the half and morale was truly shattered when Michael Ennis goaled for Westmeath in the 30th minute.

Trailing by 2-10 to 0-2 at half-time Limerick made a spirited start to the second half, however the game was already over as a contest.

WESTMEATH: A Lennon; D Brady, D Mitchell, F Murray (0- 2); D Healy, A Canning, J Keane; R O'Connell, D Hughes; P Conway (0-2), D Gavin (0-1), M Ennis (1-3); J Fallon (0-2), Derek Heavin, G Heavin (1-4). Subs: E Fleming for Derek Heavin (21 mins), T Cleary (0-3) for D Hughes (half-time), Russell Casey for D Mitchell (46), A Gorry (1-0) for J Fallon (50), L Gillivan for G Heavin (60).

LIMERICK: T McMahon; M Clancy, D Sheehy, K Higgins; D Carroll, T McLoughlin, G O'Connor; D Phelan (0-1), N Hunt; B Callinan, PJ Garvey (0-1), R Lynch; M Reidy (0-4), E Keating, M Gavin. Subs: M Ahern for K Higgins (9 mins), P Keyes (0-2) for R Lynch (24), J Colbert for P J Garvey (50), J McAuliffe for B Callinan (60).

Referee: M Hughes (Tyrone).