MEATH paid the penalty for fielding an under-strength team when they lost to Westmeath in a thrilling O'Byrne Cup game at Castletowngeoghegan yesterday.

The very strong breeze had a major influence on this game and the home team used it to good effect when they led by 3-6 to 0-2 at half-time.

The first Westmeath goal came after five minutes when Tom Ormsby punched a Ger Heavin 45 to the net. This score increased Westmeath's confidence and after racing into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead, Larry Giles was in position to flick an Oliver Keating cross to the net for a second goal.

In the 18th minute Rory O'Connell cracked home the third goal. A minute later Alan Finnegan opened Meath's account with a point and Raymond McGee added their second point of the first half.

Meath, always tough battlers had no intention of throwing in the towel. Boosted by the introduction of second-half substitutes Ollie Murphy, Jody Devine and Evan Kelly, they whittled down Westmeath's lead.

Thomas Shine netted in the 39th minute and this compensated for a penalty miss by Murphy a minute earlier. Meath dominated the second half, but Westmeath defended well with Kit Gillivan, Dermot Brady and John O'Brien prominent.

With six minutes remaining, Westmeath led by 3-6 to 1-7. Colm Coyle narrowed the deficit with a point and when Murphy punished a slack Westmeath defence when blasting a 20-metre free past a helpless Dermot Ryan for Meath's second goal, his team just trailed by a single point.

This led to a frantic finish, but Westmeath just held out for a rare win over Meath.