Wexford  1-9;  Meath 2-7 Wexford's five-match unbeaten run came to an end at home to Meath yesterday but not before an enthralling battle in front of a crowd of 6,000.

"Our ambition is to win promotion back to Division One but first great credit to Wexford. They put in a marvellous display, played quality football, and we are just happy to have got a victory," said winning manager Sean Boylan.

Wexford did enough to have snatched a draw at the death but Scott Doran elected to shoot for goal when a point would have given his side a morale-boosting draw. But Wexford's inexperience was evident at crucial stages while goalkeeper Ollie Murphy was beaten to two high balls which gave the visitors the two crucial goals from Daithi Regan and Evan Kelly.

However, manager Ger Halligan was philosophical in defeat: "We could have won, deserved a draw, but we were punished with those goals. We gave the ball away too easily but we must regroup for Carlow next Sunday."

MEATH: C Sullivan, M O'Reilly, C Murphy, P Shankey, P Reynolds, T Giles, S Kenny, N Crawford (0-1), N Nestor, E Kelly (1-1), D Crimmins (0-1), A Kenny (0-1), D Regan (1-2), D Curtis, O Murphy (0-1). Subs: G Geraghty for Nestor; N Kelly for Kenny; R Kealy for Regan; R Magee for Geraghty.

WEXFORD: O Murphy, C Morris, P Wallace, M Carley, D Murphy (0-1), D Breen, L O'Brien (0-1), T Howlin, W Carley, P Forde, J Berry (0-2), M Forde (1-0), S Doran (0-2), J Hegarty (0-2), P Carley. Subs: R Barry (0-1) for P Forde; D Kinsella for P Carley.

Referee: M Collins (Cork)