A devastating second-half display helped Meath to a comfortable 4-10 to 0-11 victory over neighbours Westmeath at Navan.

After playing with the wind at their backs, the visitors led by 0-8 to 1-3 at the break, having registered nine first-half wides, but they were completely overwhelmed upon the restart.

Stephen Bray had bagged the hosts' first-half goal and Mick O'Dowd's men added further majors from Padraic Harnan, Michael Newman and Graham Reilly after the turnaround, the fourth three-pointer from the outstanding Reilly a particularly-memorable score as he chipped the ball beyond Gary Connaughton to the back of the net for a sublime finish.

Indeed, it could have been a lot worse than double scores for Tom Cribbin's men but for a couple of fine saves from his veteran custodian.

The first half was tight, but, in the end, the 3,500 hardly souls who flocked through the turnstiles at Pairc Tailteann on a blustery night were left in no doubt as to which team was the sharpest.

The win sees the Royals move to the top of the Division Two table overnight by virtue of score difference.

Meath - P O'Rourke (0-1'45); D Tobin, C McGill, M Burke; D Dalton, D Keogan, B Power; B Menton, A Flanagan; G Reilly (1-5), P Harnan (1-0), A Tormey (0-1); D Carroll, S Bray (1-1, 0-1f), M Newman (1-2). Subs: M O'Sullivan for A Flanagan, E Wallace for D Carroll, S Tobin for B Power, N Judge for D Dalton, D Bray for B Menton, B McMahon for M Newman.

Westmeath - G Connaughton; M McCallon, K Maguire, K Daly; J Gonoud (0-1), K Martin, P Holloway; P Sharry, J Heslin (0-6f); D Daly, G Egan (0-2), R Connellan; L Smyth, C McCormack, D Glennon (0-2). Subs: S Dempsey for C McCormack, D McCormack for D Daly, J Gilligan for L Smyth, J Connellan for D Glennon, J Egan for K Daly, D Lynch for R Connellan.

Referee - F Kelly.

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