Meath 4-12 Wateford 1-6:Meath had 15 points to spare over a weak Waterford at Páirc Tailteann on Saturday evening, Brian Farrell taking the scoring honours with 3-3.
There were times when the home side served up scintillating football, but for most of the encounter they were merely going through the motions.
Waterford kept well in touch for much of the first period before Farrell's second goal after half an hour left them with too much to do - and Meath led 2-6 to 0-3 at the break.
MEATH: B Murphy; B O'Reilly, D Fay, C King (0-2); S Mac Gabhann, K Reilly, E Harrington; M Ward, A Moyles; P Byrne (0-1), C McCarthy (0-1), M Burke (0-1); S Bray (0-3, one free), B Farrell (3-3, 0-2 from frees), G Geraghty. Subs: J Sheridan (0-1) for Burke (47 mins); N Crawford for Moyles (48); C Ward (1-0) for Byrne (64); S Kenny for Mac Gabhann, N McLoughlin for Harrington (both 75).
WATERFORD: T Wall; J Walsh (0-1), E Walsh, T O'Gorman; E Rockett, L Lawlor, P Ogle; M Ahearne, J Hurney (1-0); G Hurney (0-1), G Power, L Ó Lionain; B Wall (0-3, all frees), A Hubbard, W Hennessey. Subs: S Briggs for O'Gorman (32 mins); J Ryan for Ó Lionain (46); J Phelan for Ogle (49); C O'Keeffe for Hubbard (55); S Cunningham (0-1) for Lawlor (70).
Referee: S Carroll (Westmeath).
