Offaly 1-8 Westmeath 2-11: As was widely expected, Westmeath had too much quality for neighbours Offaly and duly progress to the Leinster football championship semi-final against either Dublin or Louth on June 29th.
They moved into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after 16 minutes of an error strewn first-half thanks to points from Fergal Wilson, Dessie Dolan, corner back Francis Boyle and a Martin Flanagan 45. Offaly's response came from Niall McNamee and a fine long range strike by veteran midfielder Ciaran McManus.
There followed a forgettable 16 minutes when neither team looked capable of adding to the scoreboard with Offaly's full forward line and Westmeath's Dennis Glennon particularly guilty of poor shooting.
Dolan eventually stretched the 2004 Leinster champions lead to three points but another McNamee score and an injury-time free from McManus brought the deficit back to the minimum.
Influential Westmeath midfielder Martin Flanagan picked up a knock and was unable to return for the second-half but David Duffy proved an able replacement. It certainly didn't upset their rhythm with Wilson and Dolan adding two points each.
The game suddenly sparked to life with three goals and a straight red card in the space of just four minutes. Westmeath had the contest sewn up by the time Wilson brought his tally to 1-3, McNamee cancelled it out down the other end, Shane Sullivan saw red for a late challenge on Dolan — the Westmeath captain recovering to finish off a finely worked second goal.
Offaly: 1 P Kelly; 2 G Rafferty (capt), 3 S Sullivan, 4 J Keane; 5 P McConway, 6 S Brady, 7 P McConway; 8 C McManus (0-3, two frees), 9 A McNamee; 10 B Darby, 11 K Slattery, 12 N Smith; 13 T Deehan, 14 P Kellaghan, 15 N McNamee (1-5, three frees). Substitutes: 21 J Reynolds for S Brady (50 mins), 25 A Mulhall for P Kellaghan, 23 S Ryan for T Deehan (both 65 mins)
Westmeath: 1 G Connaughton; 2 F Boyle (0-1), 3 K Gavin, 4 J Keane; M Ennis, D Heavin, 7 D Healy; 8 M Flanagan (0-1, 45), 9 D O'Donoghue; 10 F Wilson (1-4, two frees), 11 J Smyth, 12 D Harte; A Mangan, 14 Dennis Glennon (0-1), 15 D Dolan (capt, 1-4, two frees). Substitutes: 17 D Duffy for M Flanagan (half-time, inj), 18 D Bannon for A Mangan (61 mins), 20 David Glennon for J Smyth (71 mins).
Referee: J McKee (Armagh).