With David Duffy and Jeffrey Farrell controlling midfield, and their half-back line of Greg Crowley, Adrian Kelly and Michael Curley, providing an attacking platform it was no surprise when they led 1-4 to 0-1 at the interval . . . the goal splendidly struck home by Farrell three minutes before the break.

Westmeath started the second half with a flurry of scores to kill off the game, a Wexford goal towards the end their only consolation.

WESTMEATH D Bryan, J Lynch, F Boyle, T J Gonoud, G Crowley, A Kelly, M Curley, J Farrell (1-2), D Duffy, F Spellman (1-1), J Clarke (0-2, 1f), G Dillon, P Martin (0-1), G Hoey, D Glennon (0-4, 4f). Subs C Jordan for Duffy; R Foley for Spellman; D Moore for Glennon; L Folan for Dillon; P Greville for Martin.

WEXFORD T Hughes, J Byrne, L Kent, J Wadding, B Malone, G Molloy, A Doyle, P.

Murphy, C Farrell, A Grif"th, D Shannon, P Hughes, P Atkinson (1-0), P J Banville (0-1, 1f), D Kehoe. Subs M Doyle for Kehoe; P Cullen for P Hughes; P Codd (0-1 free) for Murphy; R Quinlivan for Grif"th; A Doyle for Doyle.

Referee E. Craul (Wicklow)