Meath did what they had to do, beating Offaly with plenty of breathing space to book their return back to Division 1 football in Tullamore.
With Offaly already relegated, Meath were never likely to slip up at this stage and after a few hairy first-half moments, they got away coming up towards half time and their win was never in doubt in the second half.
They will play Cork in the Division 2 final and will be delighted with the form they are showing, their physicality and score taking.
Robbie Brennan’s men were very happy to go in leading by 2-09 to 0-09 at half time after struggling for a nice bit of the first half.
Offaly got off the mark with a two point free from goalkeeper Conor Melia but Meath replied with a quality Bryan Menton goal. The Royals led by 1-03 to 0-03 after 11 minutes but the hosts played their best football in the next few minutes.
Shane Tierney converted two frees, Daire McDaid curled over an excellent two pointer and Jordan Hayes fisted a point as they grabbed a 0-08 to 1-03 lead. Meath were not playing well at this stage, a bit sloppy and coughing up the ball but they struck for 1-05 without reply to take control.
They cut down on their errors and a big turning point was their 27th minute penalty goal from Jordan Morris. It was also controversial as Shane O’Toole-Greenem scarcely fouled Cian McBride but it helped Meath into a 2-08 to 0-08 lead. Darragh Flynn and Eoghan Frayne swapped late points to give them that half time lead.
The second half was a formality. Darragh Flynn got the opening point of the second half for the Faithful but Meath quickly pulled out of sight. Sean Brennan converted a two point free for Meath, awarded for a three man breach, as they marched into a 2-13 to 0-10 lead after 40 minutes.
Meath’s attacking football was very impressive as they opened daylight. They led by 2-22 to 0-14 with six minutes left but Offaly, to their credit, kept trying and they got the final four points without reply – Harry Plunkett got two points from play and Jordan Hayes and Eoin Sawyer also pointed.
Meath: Sean Brennan (0-2, 2pf); Seamus Lavin, Sean Rafferty, Brian O’Halloran; Donal Keogan (0-2), Sean Coffey (0-1), Ciaran Caulfield (0-1); Bryan Menton (1-0), Cian McBride (0-1); Jack O’Connor, Ruari Kinsella (0-1), Jack Flynn; Jordan Morris (1-6, goal from a penalty, 1f), Eoghan Frayne (0-2), Aaron Lynch (0-3).
Subs: Cathal Hickey for O’Connor (46m), James Conlon (0-2) for Lynch, Conor Duke for Flynn (55m), Jason Scully (0-1) for Menton (60m), Killian Smyth for Caulfield (60m),
Offaly: Conor Melia (0-2, 2pf); Shane O’Toole-Greene, David Dempsey, Lee Pearson; Cormac Egan, Diarmuid Egan, Daire McDaid (0-3, 1 2p); Jack McEvoy, Ed Cullen; Marcas Dalton, Jordan Hayes (0-3), Rory Egan; Niall Furlong, Shane Tierney (0-2, 2f), Darragh Flynn (0-4).
Subs: Dylan Hyland for Cullen (HT), Eoin Sawyer (0-1) for Diarmuid Egan (HT), Harry Plunkett (0-3, 1f) for Tierney (50m), Eoin Dunne for Furlong (58m), Robbie Gallagher for Flynn (66m).
Referee: Seamus Mulhare, Laois.