Padraic Davis admits he has 'neither the energy nor the appetite' for a rebuild after being mauled by Meath in Navan.
The Longford boss quit after the 22-point hammering, admitting he's simply 'out of gas' after three seasons in charge.
Longford struck 0-25 against Carlow in Round 1 but the step up to face the back to back finalists was severe and the game was up by half-time.
Meath captain Shane McEntee netted after 100 seconds and there were majors too for top scorer Jordan Morris, Cathal Hickey and James Conlon.
The 22-point win is a boost for Meath after last month's Division 2 promotion play-off defeat to Kildare.
But it's the end of the road for Longford this season and Davis won't be back in 2022.
Davis said: "When I look up at the scoreboard I have neither the energy nor the appetite to try to take that on again next October or November. Obviously a heavy defeat like that doesn't help.
"It's really hard to figure out how we ended up in that situation. We came here with confidence and it wasn't just based on beating Carlow. We felt the team was in a good place and improving."
Meath manager Andy McEntee watched the game from the press box and cut a contented figure.
There were 12 different Meath scorers including McEntee's son, Shane, and nephew, James, who hit 1-4 between them.
McEntee said he wasn't concerned about the Kildare setback damaging morale.
The Royals boss said: "I have never doubted the players. We have had our setbacks sure, we have had loads of setbacks but they've always responded in a very positive fashion and they've done so again."
Six early wides undermined Meath's efforts and kept Longford in the game.
But a knee injury suffered by influential midfielder Darren Gallagher, forcing his exit at half-time, hurt the visitors.
Meath closed out the half with a 1-5 haul including a well worked Morris goal which was created by Bryan McMahon - leaving them 2-10 to 0-6 clear.
A third quarter burst of 1-4 without reply from the 2010 provincial winners left 15 points between the teams, McMahon this time playing in Hickey for the goal.
James McEntee booted four long-range points as a sub for Meath while Conlon capped the big win with their fourth goal in the 70th minute.
