Walsh Cup/ Offaly 2-22 Westmeath 1-7:For a brief moment midway through the opening half of this clash at Cusack Park, Mullingar, yesterday Westmeath looked like they might give visitors Offaly a run for their money, but they hadn't reckoned on the destructive power of Joe Bergin.

Twice he was denied by brilliant stops by the Westmeath goalkeeper, Pat Burke, but he still managed to find the net on two occasions, in the 17th and 37th minutes, and that second goal, coming on the stroke of half-time, effectively killed the game as a contest.

At that point Offaly held an eight-point advantage, 2-8 to 0-6, and, with the wind in their favour after the change of ends, the writing was on the wall for the home side.

A sweetly struck Barry Kennedy goal in the 50th minute injected renewed hope but a succession of Offaly points, from the stick of Bergin and their team captain, Rory Hanniffy, was enough to take Offaly through to the semi-final.

OFFALY: R Murray; C Hernon, P Cleary, D Franks; C Horan, K Brady, D Kenny; B Teehan, G Hannify; D Molloy, R Hanniffy (0-6), E Bevans (0-5); C Parlon (0-1), J Bergin (2-8), A Egan (0-2). Subs: J Rigney for Kenny; B O'Meara for Cleary; M Verney for Franks; G Oakley for Teehan; K Kelly for Egan.

WESTMEATH: P Burke; C Jordan, D Curley, N Gavin; A Price, D McCormack, B Connaughton; P Dowdall, J Shaw (0-4); J McGuinness (0-1), V Bateman (0-2), R Jackson; B Kennedy (1-0), D Carty, D McNicholas. Subs: E Loughlin for Connaughton; S Egan for Jackson; N Kilcoyne for Price; N Williams for McNicholas.

Referee: A Stapleton(Laois).