Referee Sean O'Shea may have been active in this game issuing yellow cards, including a second for Westmeath defender TJ Gonoud late in the contest, but in a far from dirty encounter Laois exerted dominance, particularly in the second half.

The opening quarter of the game was a tight affair, but a Colm Kelly goal 20 minutes into the game pushed Laois into a 1-4 to 0-3 lead. But Westmeath moved the ball well in attack and four points from Paul Martin ensured that the minimum separated the sides at the interval.

Laois got into their stride after the break, creating plenty of chances and although they missed a penalty midway through the half from Kelly, they made amends with a Michael John Tierney strike seeing them take a 2-7 to 0-7 advantage.

With man of the match Peter O'Leary impressive in defence along with Craig Rogers, Laois continued to pull away from their opponents with two Colm Kelly points in the closing minutes sealing victory.

Laois' opponents in the final will be Longford, who booked their passage through with a 2-6 to 0-9 win over favourites Kildare in a tight game in Newbridge.

Two goals, one scored in either half, paved the way for Longford who displayed greater resilience in the second half to keep Kildare at bay in the final 10 minutes as the Lilywhites desperately sought out an equalising goal.

Having started at a ferocious pace and boosted by a strong breeze, Kildare moved seven points to one in front by the 17th minute but they were taken off guard when their opponents netted a goal against the run of play two minutes later through Peter Foy. Longford tagged on three points to leave it 0-8 to 1-3 at the break.

The wind and rain made the pitch a swampy sward in the second half but the midlanders were getting on top and a second goal arrived seven minutes after the restart when Pauric Berry got his hands to a long free in from Brian Kavanagh.

Kildare failed to score from there to the finish and Longford closed out proceedings in convincing style, Francis Magee kicking three frees to earn them a place in the final.

In the west, reigning AllIreland champions Galway were pushed all the way by Sligo, before advancing to the Connacht under-21 football final on a 2-9 to 1-8 scoreline.

Two goals just before the interval from captain Tomas Costello and Sean Armstrong paved the way for a sluggish Galway side to advance.

Sligo, playing against the wind in the opening half, got a great boost when David Kelly got a goal after just four minutes, although Galway led at the break, 2-5 to 1-3.

In the second half Galway, down to 14 men after the dismissal of wing-back Ruairi McTiernan, held on for victory with the impressive Costello kicking an insurance point in the dying moments.