For the Royals
had squandered possession. The last of those points from the impressive Halloran left the sides level at 0-6 to 1-3 on 22 minutes.
However, it was Meath who finished the half in style as Luke Kelly somehow managed to wriggle his way past a couple of tackles before blasting high to the net on 28 minutes. Bell then increased the lead from another free on the stroke of half-time.
The sides swapped points at the start of the second half, with Luke Mitchell on target for Meath before a rare point from wing back Sean Coffey stretched the lead to five on 34 minutes.
Galway lost Liam Judge to a black card, but they were growing in confidence and their fluent style was rewarded when the Meath defence was split wide open by a combination of Paul Kelly and Conor Raftery to set up Eoghan Tinney for their opening goal.
Meath hardly had time to recover when Galway struck for their second goal three minutes later, with substitute Oisin McCormack completing a move which left his side in front by a point.
Luke Mitchell temporally halted Galway’s dominance from a pointed free and they might have had a goal from the resultant kickout, but Matthew Costello failed to connect and the chance was lost.
Worse was to follow for Meath, though, as Tony Gill’s well-placed effort gave keeper Brennan no chance, with midfielder Kelly again the provider.
Galway pressed home their advantage after that with points from Raftery, Halloran and Tomo Culhane to leave it 3-10 to 2-7.
Meath rung the changes but it made little difference. Mitchell, who was Meath’s best player, hit their last two points, while Ryan Monaghan converted two frees and Kelly blasted over the bar when he could have easily found the net as a rampant Galway finished in impressive style.
MEATH: Sean Brennan (Dunderry), James O’Hare (Rathkenny), Harry O’Higgins (Drumbaragh), Cathal Hickey (Seneschalstown); Conor Farrelly (Walterstown), Conor Harford (St Vincent’s), Sean Coffey 0-1 (Ballinabrackey); Adam Reilly (Moynalty), Cian McBride (St Ultan’s); Darragh Swaine (Clann na nGael), Matthew Costello 0-1 (Dunshaughlin), Bryan McCormack 0-1 (Moynalty); David Bell 0-2f (St Colmcille’s), Luke Kelly 1-0 (Na Fianna), Luke Mitchell 1-4 (2f) (Dunshaughlin). Subs: Colin Hawdon (Oldcastle) for McCormack (41), Niall Bennett (Kilmainhamwood) for Reilly, Brian O’Hanlon (O’Mahonys) for Swaine, Oisin McCloskey (Na Fianna) for Farrelly (all 49), Luke Newe (Ratoath) for McCloskey (BC 51), Joseph Moore (Seneschalstown) for Kelly (55),
GALWAY: Donie Halloran; Ethan Walsh, Sean Black, Cian Deane; Ryan Monahan 0-2f, Tony Gill 1-0, Cathal Sweeney 0-3; Paul Kelly 0-1, Conor Raftery 0-1; Liam Judge, Aidan Halloran 0-4, Oisin Gormally; Eoghan Tinney 1-0, Daniel Cox 0-1, Matthew Cooley. Subs: Oisin McCormack 1-0 for Cox (h-t), Cian Hernon for Judge (BC 34), Eanna McCormack for Gormally (40), Tomo Culhane 0-1 for Cooley (52), Conor Halbard for Tinney (55).
REF: Noel Mooney (Cavan)