Meath 1-15 Westmeath 1-5:TOMÁS Ó FLATHARTA stepped down as Westmeath manager after this 10-point defeat to Meath at Cusack Park on Saturday. When Meath's Joe Sheridan goaled in the 33rd minute, there was an air of inevitability about the outcome.

Peadar Byrne gave Meath the lead in the 16th minute before John Connellan equalised. Meath, despite shooting nine wides, led 1-5 to 0-3 at the break, as Sheridan flicked a high ball from Stephen Bray to the net shortly before the break.

Five points in succession – Sheridan supplying two of them, with Ward (two frees) and Stephen Bray also on target – gave Meath a 1-10 to 0-3 lead by the 47th minute. Westmeath substitute Martin Flanagan goaled on 44 minutes and Conor Lynam added a point to cut Meath’s lead to six. After Connaughton denied Sheridan a second goal, Flanagan pointed a 45 in the 54th minute, but Westmeath would not score again as Ward, Sheridan and Peadar Byrne sealed victory.

MEATH: P O’Rourke; C O’Connor, A Moyles, E Harrington; S Kenny (0-1), C McGuinness, C King; N Crawford, B Meade; P Byrne (0-2), J Sheridan (1-4), S Bray (0-2); D Bray, B Farrell, C Ward (0-6, three frees, two 45s). Subs: J Queeney for Farrell (29 mins), B Regan for McGuinness (63 mins), M Burke for Kenny (65 mins), S McAnarney for S Bray (68 mins), M Ward for B Meade (69 mins).

WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; K Gavin, J Keane, D O’Donoghue; D Heavin (0-1), F Boyle, M Ennis; D O’Shaughnessy, D Duffy (0-1); D Dolan, D Glennon, D Harte; J Connellan (0-1), P Sharry, C Lynam (0-1). Subs: W Murtagh for Gavin (injured, 34 mins); M Flanagan (1-1, one 45) for Sharry (38 mins); J Smyth for Harte (42 mins); F Wilson for Connellan (55 mins); D Corroon for Glennon (58 mins).

Referee: M Sludden (Tyrone).