Westmeath and Meath booked their Leinster MFC quarter-final places with contrasting wins over Carlow and Wicklow respectively last night.

While Meath were coasting to a 6-23 to 0-5 victory in Aughrim, Westmeath had to come from seven points down to edge out Carlow by 1-14 to 1-12 in the other preliminary quarter-final at Tubberclair.

Westmeath looked to be in trouble when Eoghan Treacy's 15th minute goal and four points from Alex Doyle helped Carlow to a 1-9 to 0-5 interval lead. But an Aaron Connaire major four minutes into the second half brought Mick Dillon's charges back into it and they had regained parity at 1-11 apiece before a two-pointer from Dean Kelly and a Connaire single gave them the lead late on.

But the Lake County almost lost it at the end when Adam Joyce hit the post for Carlow.

Emphatic 6-22 to 0-7 winners over Laois in their last group match, Meath put up another huge score as they swatted aside Wicklow's meek challenge.

Trevor Giles' lads took an unassailable 4-7 to 0-3 lead into the break thanks to goals from Cormac McKenna, Milo Stafford (two, one from a penalty) and Conn Brennan. There was no respite for the hosts after the restart when Stafford completed his hat-trick and substitute Dan Loughran also raised a green flag.

In next week's quarter-finals, Westmeath will face Kildare and Meath will take on holders Offaly.

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