The Westerners were reduced to 14 men just three minutes after half-time and although Laois missed a penalty chance soon after, the midlanders were quick to capitalise. A late point from 16-year old Donie Kingston sealed victory following a powerful closing quarter. The Knockbeg College student was a vital cog for the O'Moore's as they progressed to a first All Ireland final since 1998. Laois manager Sean Dempsey felt that his side were living dangerously in the opening stages of the game. "We were giving away a lot of possession in the opening stages. We definitely gave Mayo one of those early points after some poor passing from us, " Dempsey stated.

LAOIS C Munnelly; C Healy, M Timmons, B Meredith; S Lalor, J O'Loughlin, N Donoher (0-1); B Quigley, C Og Greene (0-1); D Brennan, C Rogers (0-1), S O'Leary; MJ Tierney (0-5, 2f, 1 45), S O'Neill, D Conway (0-2, 1f). Subs D Kingston (0-1, 1f) for Conway, 39 mins; I Fleming for O'Leary, 53 mins MAYO M McNulty; A Joyce, G Cafferkey, D Kilcullen; C Barrett, T Cunniffe, C Boyle; B Moran, T Parsons (0-2); A Campbell, P Hanley (01, 1f), A McManamon; E Varley (0-1), A Hanley, M Ronaldson (0-2, 1f).

Subs J Burke for McManamon, 37 mins; S O'Shea for Moran , 37 mins; B Benson for Varley , 53 mins; P O'Connor for Hanley, 61 mins