There was only one team enjoying themselves in the summer sunshine in Castlebar on Sunday as Mayo booked their place in the Division 2 league semi-finals in style.
Two first goals from James Carr, and a penalty from Cillian O’Connor, helped the Westerners to an easy win over a makeshift Meath team that were no match for the homeside.
However, despite the heavy defeat, the Royals also qualify for the promotion play-offs as group runners-up and will fancy their chances of beating neighbours, Kildare, with a full strength team.
Mayo will return to the top-flight at the first attempt if they beat Clare in their semi-final in two weeks’ time, and on this evidence nobody should bet against them.
James Horan sent out a strong starting team to get the job done while Aidan O’Shea also came off the bench during the second half for his first appearance since last December’s All-Ireland Final defeat to Dublin.
Meath boss Andy McEntee took a very different approach, leaving out left eight regulars, and his depleted outfit struggled in the opening half to cope with Mayo’s pace and power in the blazing sunshine.
The homeside had come flying out of the blocks and, despite conceding a Brian Conlon goal on 15 minutes, last year’s All-Ireland finalists were 3-11 to 1-4 up at the interval.
Meath introduced Donal Keogan, Shane McEntee and Padraic Harnan to bolster their effort at the break, while Mickey Newman also made his long-awaited return from injury during the second half and kicked four points, three from frees.
But the Royals never looked like making a game of it, despite some well-taken points from James Conlon and Eamonn Wallace.
The highlight of their second half display was a well-constructed and well-finished goal from veteran midfielder, Brian Menton, in the 41st minute.
In truth, Meath’s cause wasn’t helped either by black cards for defenders Eoin Harkin and Conor McGill, with the Royals reduced to 13 men at one stage in the second half when both players were in the sin-bin at the same time.
So Mayo freewheeled to victory in the end, despite being outscored in the second period by 1-8 to 0-6 as Meath produced a much-improved display.
But it was too little too late, and Mayo showed enough quality and class in the early stages to suggest that they will be playing top-flight football again in 2022.
Mayo
R Hennelly; E O’Donoghue, O Mullin, L Keegan; M Plunkett (0-1), S Coen, F Boland (0-1); M Ruane (0-2), D O’Connor; J Carney, D McHale (0-2), B Walsh (0-2); R O’Donoghue, C O’Connor (1-4, 1-0pen, 2fs, 1m), J Carr (2-1).
Subs used: P Towey (0-3, 2fs) for C O’Connor; C Boyle for Keegan; A O’Shea (0-1) for Carney; E McLaughlin for Boland; D Coen for O’Donoghue; J Flynn for McHale; T Conroy for Carr.
Meath
H Hogan; S Lavin, C McGill, E Harkin; C Hickey, B Conlon (1-0), J O’Connor (0-1); B Menton (1-0), D Dillon; E Wallace (0-2), J Scully, J Flynn (0-1, 1f); J Wallace, D Campion, J Conlon (0-4, 3fs).
Subs used: D Keogan for Hickey; S McEntee for McMahon; P Harnan for Dillon; D Dixon for Campion; M Newman (0-4, 3fs) for Scully; L Byrne for Hogan.
Referee : M McNally (Monaghan)
