Perhaps if Meath had taken all their chances the second semi-final in the women's football championship at Parnell Park on Saturday could have proved more competitive.
In truth though, Waterford, the beaten finalists last year, looked to be in another league and showed drive and initiative which always marked them as a team that were anxious to reach the final and have another crack at Mayo, their narrow conquerers of 12 months ago.
For most of the game Meath existed largely on Waterford mistakes and these were few, but even when Meath carved an opening, luck was inclined to frown on them.
Midfielder Niamh McNeilis, among the best players on the pitch, struck an upright after Jackie Shiels had finally opened the Leinster champions' account in the 17th minute.
By that time Waterford had laid a solid basis for victory with 1-6 on the board. McNeilis was again unlucky early in the second half when a goal chance was created only for the ball to screw off her right foot.
Another piece of Meath misfortune came shortly afterwards when Dearbhla O'Carroll's likely goalscoring pass was intercepted by Waterford full back Angie Walsh. Later still, a shot at goal by Grainne Nulty was somehow deflected.
Meath, yet to reach an All-Ireland final despite four previous penultimate-stage appearances, were reduced to 14 players near the end when Louise McKeever was sent off after a second bookable offence.
But it would be distorting the facts to even suggest that Waterford did not deserve such an emphatic victory. Meath were generally outclassed and could make little impact on the superb Waterford full-back line of the Na Deise club trio - Marion Troy, Walsh and Olivia Condon who retired near the end.
Martina O'Ryan was central to a cast-iron defence and Meath attempts to break down the barricades were further weakened when Dearbhla O'Carroll had to move back to midfield in an effort to curb the consistent Waterford midfield duo of player-of-the-match Anna Lisa Crotty and Mary O'Donnell.
Crotty struck a post just before half-time, but Waterford still went in at the break leading by 112 to 0-2.
It was hardly a contest after that but Meath, for whom Fiona Mahon starred in attack after a pre-match reshuffle, put in a lot of attacking in the last 10 minutes after Mary Sheridan was moved from full back to midfield. The move could have been made a lot earlier.
Waterford: S Hickey; M Troy, A Walshe, O Condon; B Hannigan, M O'Ryan, JA Torpey; AL Crotty, M O'Donnell (0-1); R Hallanan (0- 2), C Ryan (0-3), C Casey 0-4 (two frees); G O'Ryan (0-5), N Barry (1-0), M O'Rourke (0- 1). Subs: N Walsh for Hannigan; A Murphy (0- 1) for Barry; T Whyte for Condon.
Meath: S Coleman; P McNeilis, M Sheridan, L McKeever; D Mangan, AM Dennehy, L Keenan; S Dooley, N McNeilis (0-1); F Mahon (0-1), D O'Carroll, D Shaw; E Duffy (0-3 two frees), J Shiels, C O'Brien (0-3). Subs: E O'Carroll for Shaw; J Quinn for Duffy; G Nulty for Shiels.
Referee: M Duffy (Sligo).
