Waterford 0-8 Meath 1-20:AFTER LEADING by just two points at the end of the opening quarter, Meath clicked into gear to score their expected win over Waterford in the first senior championship clash between the counties in Navan on Saturday evening.

Points from Wayne Hennessy and Patrick Hurney gave the visitors a 0-2 to 0-1 lead after nine minutes. Meath slowly but surely got their shooting right and defenders Chris O’Connor and Cormac McGuinness shared five points.

O’Connor fired over three terrific scores, two in the first half.

With Joe Sheridan and Peadar Byrne sharing five points, Meath had their name in the hat for the second round assured at the break when leading by 0-12 to 0-2.

But manager Eamonn O’Brien was not fully happy was his side’s display. “We did what we had to do and any win is good to get, but the work ethic needs to be increased. Also we need to be tighter at the back, as Waterford could have got in for a goal or two,” he said.

His Waterford counterpart, John Kiely, seemed more impressed by Meath. “I would fancy Meath to go a long way. They took some great scores this evening and they are right up there with the best,” he added.

MEATH: P O’Rourke; C O’Connor (0-3), A Moyles, E Harrington; S Kenny, C McGuinness (0-2), C King; N Crawford, B Meade; P Byrne (0-2), J Sheridan (0-3), S McAnarney (0-1); D Bray (0-3, 2f), B Farrell (0-2), C Ward (0-4, 4f). Subs: M Burke for Byrne (half-time), B Regan for McGuinness (55 mins), S Sheridan for Moyles (60 mins), J Queeney (1-0) for Kenny (62 mins), M Ward for Crawford (64 mins).

WATERFORD: T Wall; S Briggs, T O’Gorman, Maurice O’Gorman; E Rockett, L Lawlor, T Grey (0-1); S O’Hare, B Phelan; W Hennessy (0-2, 1f), B Walsh (0-1, f), L O Lionnain (0-2); S Cunningham, G Power, B Hurney (0-1). Subs: C McGrath (0-1) for Power (4 mins), E Walsh for O’Hare (half-time), Michael O’Gorman for Cunningham (43 mins), J Phelan for McGrath (63 mins).

Referee: T Quigley (Dublin).