Waterford are out of the All Ireland football championship following a 1-22 to 0-7 qualifier defeat to Westmeath at a sun drenched Cusack Park in Mullingar. Ger Egan got 0-8 for the hosts with Ronan O'Toole firing home a goal on 55 minutes.
Wind assisted Westmeath led nine points to one at half time. Tommy Prendergast kicked Waterford's lone score on 24 minutes.
The away side closed the gap to five in the third quarter with points by Conor Murray, Dessie Hutchinson and Prendergast but that was as good as it got. Waterford have now lost 17 of their 19 matches in the backdoor system.
Manager Benji Whelan was furious with referee Paddy Neilan for not awarding a penalty to Fearghal O Cuirrin early in the second half. "Absolutely scandalous to be honest with you. That's not sour grapes, that's facts. I can't wait to see the footage to explain it to people. No complaints with the way the game finished out but just disappointed not to get the rub of the green."
Waterford lost goalkeeper Darren Mulhearne to an ankle injury in the pre-match warm-up as Paudie Hunt from Rathgormack made his championship debut.
