NHL DIVISION TWO Limerick 1-20 Westmeath 0-15:LIMERICK TURNED in a workmanlike second-half display to earn a flattering eight-point win against Westmeath at the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday.

Limerick raced into an early three-point lead but were pegged back to level terms after 15 minutes. A pointed free from Brendan Murtagh saw the home crowd become a little restless but by the interval Limerick edged ahead 0-10 to 0-9 thanks to a stoppage-time point from Richie McCarthy.

Donal O’Grady brought on Brian Geary and Pat Tobin at the break and within four minutes the changes proved a success when Tobin raced clear to hit a cracking shot past Pat Burke.

That made it 1-12 to 0-9 and from there to the end Limerick remained in front but they never played with any fluency on a sodden pitch. James Ryan had a fine game at centre-forward for Limerick with teenager Kevin Downes also impressing. For Westmeath, Andrew Mitchell and Brian Smyth caught the eye.

LIMERICK: N Quaid; S Walsh, S Lucey, D Moloney; W McNamara, S Hickey, P O'Brien; D O'Grady (0-2), E Ryan (0-4, three frees); R McCarthy (0-5, four frees, J Ryan (0-5), N Maher (0-2); A O'Shaughnessy (0-1), K Downes, G Mulcahy. Subs: B Geary for Lucey (half-time); P Tobin (1-1) for O'Shaughnessy (half-time); K O'Rourke for O'Brien (67 mins); B Hourigan for McCarthy (67 mins).

WESTMEATH: P Burke; R Whelan, P Greville, E Price (0-2); P Gilsenan, A Mitchell (0-3, 0-1 free), J Shaw; N Flanagan (0-1), C Curley (0-1); B Smyth (0-2), D McNicholas (0-1), B Murtagh (0-2, 0-1 free); A Devine, B Leharte, D Carthy (0-3, 0-2 frees). Subs: J Clarke for Carthy (47 mins); C Mackey for Leharte (50 mins); A Prior for Curley (50 mins); D Golden for Devine (65 mins).

Referee: A Stapleton(Laois).