FOURTEEN-MAN Meath had to withstand a late bout of sustained pressure before finally overcoming Westmeath in this Kehoe Cup senior hurling semi-final at Trim yesterday.

Having been booked earlier in the game, centre back Dave Connell was dismissed ten minutes before the end following a challenge on John Gavigan and Westmeath, trailing by 0-7 to 0-5 at that point, surged forward in a bid to capitalise on their numerical advantage.

To that point, however, the visitors had rarely threatened with only half back Sean McLoughlin showing any kind of form. And apart from a five-minute spell midway through the first half, when they wiped out a 0-3 to 0-0 deficit to draw level, they were always in arrears.

Meath were quickly into their stride and three fine points from Tom McKeown, Pat Potterton and Declan Murray gave them an early advantage.

It was 0-7 to 0-4 to the hosts at the interval and though they managed to score only twice after the break, those two Potterton points provided enough of a cushion.