Westmeath survived a startling Laois comeback at Croke Park yesterday to set up a Leinster final meeting with Dublin.

They spent much of the first half in control as they ran up an effortless 0-7 to 01 advantage. In the first 12 minutes, Alan Lambden, Colin Whyte and Alan Hickey all added to PJ Ward's four points before the game went into decline in the second quarter.

After the break, Laois enjoyed a dominant five-minute spell in which Jason Enright and Donal Miller both fisted goals and PJ Harding pointed a free to leave the sides level at 0-8 to 2-2 in the 41st minute.

However, Westmeath retaliated with two points from Whyte and another from Ward. Gradually, they regained a foothold and although Laois did manage two more points, Westmeath always looked the sharper around goal.

Centre forward Ward pointed a free in the 54th minute and late substitute, Liam O'Reilly, who only came on in the 52nd minute, shot two excellent points to leave Westmeath with the four-point cushion their general play merited.

Westmeath: E Farrell; D O'Donoghue, A McCormack, F Newman; D McDermott, A Lambden (0-2), G Glennon; P Leavy, G Flanagan; N Adamson, PJ Ward (0-6, five frees) G McDonnell; A Hickey (0-1), C Whyte (0-3, one free), T Browne. Subs: N Kilmartin for Flanagan (49 mins); L O'Reilly (0-2) for Hickey (52 mins).

Laois: M Nolan; S Dwyer, D Hogan, P Dunne; G Walsh, L Hyland, M McNulty; D Miller (1-0), D McEvoy (0-1); R Munnelly (0-1 free), J Challoner, M Brennan; J Nolan, J Enright (1-0), P J Harding (0-1, free). Subs: E Dooley for Hyland (27 mins); B O'Connell (0-1) for J Nolan (45 mins); P Turley for Miller (47 mins); B Kehoe for Harding (55 mins).

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).