Wicklow, minus six players from the Rathnew club, currently on holidays, faded badly in the second half of this O'Byrne Cup semi-final at Cusack Park, Mullingar yesterday. Trailing 0-6 to 0-4 at halftime Wicklow hopes were dashed by a 47th Martin Flanagan goal. Five minutes later, Wicklow's hopes received a further blow when Colm Toomey was sent off.

Rampant Westmeath piled on the scores and had further goals from Flanagan and Ger Heavin.

Westmeath: C Mullin; D Brady, D Mitchell, F Murray; D Healy, A Canning, B Morley; R O'Connell, P Conway (0-1); F Wilson (0-4), D Gavin, M Ennis (0-1); C Keane, M Flanagan (2-2), G Heavin (1-3). Subs: D Dolan (0-1) for Gavin (h.t.); T Cleary for Keane (54 mins); D Heavin for Dolan (inj 55 mins); D Murphy for Murray (inj 57 mins); J Fallon for Wilson (63 mins).

Wicklow: R Hollingsworth; B O hAnnaidh, K Foley, B Whelan; S Cush, B O'Donovan, C Toomey; B Sheehan, D Dillon; K Burke, S O'Neill (0-2), O O hAnnaidh; P Callaghan (0- 2), K Byrne (0-1), J Beehan. Subs: K Manning for Byrne (inj 14 mins); R Stapleton for K Burke (45 mins).

Referee: E Whelan (Laois).