UNDER-21 FOOTBALL LEINSTER CHAMPIONSHIP: Westmeath 1-15 Laois1-5 LAST YEAR'S beaten finalists Westmeath recorded an easy victory over Laois at O'Moore Park last night.

When they sides met in Mullingar last year, Westmeath had three points to spare, but last night’s encounter was a bitter disappointment for the home team.

Laois opened the scoring with a Luke Doyle point, but Westmeath soon replied with three in a row, centre forward Conor Lynam causing havoc scored twice before Kieran Lillis added Laois’s second score.

Westmeath took complete control, scoring at will, and when awarded a penalty Ian Coffey made no mistake. Laois closed the half with a Gary Walsh point but Westmeath led by six as the teams retired for the break 1-6 to 0-3.

Kieran Lillis opened the second half scoring but Westmeath, with James Dolan doing as he pleased, sent over six in a row before Ciaran Farrell landed a Laois point from play.

Barry Kelly shot a late goal for the home team but by then Pat Flanagan’s charges were on their way to a home meeting with Offaly in the quarter-final in two weeks time.

WESTMEATH: E Carberry; B Moran, K Sheridan (0-1), K Maguire; M McCallum, K Martin, J Dolan (0-2); D Keenan, D Daly; A Corroon (0-2), C Lynam (0-5), G Egan; I Coffey (1-1), C McCormack (0-1), T McDaniel (0-3).

LAOIS: J Dunphy; A Whelan, C Booth, S George; S Murphy, C Farrell (0-1), J Nerney; S Nerney, K Lillis (0-2); L Doyle (0-1), J Doyle, B Kelly (1-0); D Hayden, D Kingston, G Walsh (0-1).

Referee: Brian O'Shea (Dublin).