Westmeath's recent good record against Laois in the Allianz Football League continued in O'Moore Park on Sunday afternoon as they did enough to come out on top in a hard-fought encounter in difficult conditions.
They have now beaten Laois in their last six league meetings as they finally stretched clear in the final quarter.
This was one for the purists. On a bitterly cold day with the wind swirling towards the apartment side of the Abbeyleix end, the first half was a real war of attrition.
Laois played with the breeze in the opening half but for long spells Westmeath dominated possession.
Yet neither side created much in the first 20 minutes.
Goalkeeper Danny Bolger banged over a long-range free from about 60 yards in the fifth minute but Westmeath took the lead when Luke Loughlin fisted a John Heslin effort to the net four minutes later.
Chances were few and far between at either end but Laois did work a brilliant move that ended with Mark Barry pointing and they were soon level when the impressive Eoin Lowry got his first point from play.
A John Heslin free and a Ronan O'Toole effort from play put Westmeath two up again - but two from Lowry and another long-range free from Bolger sent Laois in at half time leading by 0-06 to 1-02.
Conor McCormack levelled things up early in the second half and the sides then went score for score; Gary Walsh with two frees and one from play for Laois and Heslin, O'Toole and David Lynch all on target for the visitors.
But Westmeath then began to get on top in the final quarter and three quick points had them three in front.
The first could well have been a goal but Bolger did well to tip over Luke Loughlin's effort and then Alex Gardiner and Heslin (free) had them 1-09 to 0-09 clear.
Gary Walsh pulled back a free after Paddy O'Sullivan was fouled but it was instantly cancelled out by a second from Gardiner.
A Gardiner mark pushed the lead to four late on and though Ross Munnelly responded, Westmeath made sure of the win when sub Kieran Martin powered through for a goal.
Westmeath: Jason Daly; Jack Smith, Kevin Maguire, Ronan Wallace; Nigel Harte, David Giles, Jamie Gonoud; Sam McCartan, Ray Connellan; Conor McCormack (0-01), Ronan O'Toole (0-02), David Lynch (0-01); Luke Loughlin (1-01), John Heslin (0-03, 2f), Alex Gardiner (0-03).
Sub: Sam Duncan for Harte (54), Jonathan Lynam for McCormack (60), Kieran Martin (1-00) for Loughlin (66), Darragh Seery for Lynch (75), Robbie Forde for Gardiner (75)
Laois: Danny Bolger (0-02, 2f); James Kelly, Trevor Collins, Alex Mohan; Sean O'Flynn, John O'Loughlin, Gareth Dillon; Kieran Lillis, James Finn; Brian Byrne, Eoin Lowry (0-03), Paddy O'Sullivan; Mark Barry (0-01), Evan O'Carroll, Gary Walsh (0-04, 3f). Subs: Dylan Kavanagh for Collins (blood - 9-14), Kavanagh for Kelly (injured - 50), Alan Farrell for Finn (53), Danny O'Reilly for Byrne (57), Cormac Murphy for O'Loughlin (64), Ross Munnelly (0-01) for Barry (69)
Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)
Wicklow 1-10 Fermanagh 2-07
Elsewhere in the division, Fermanagh let a big lead slip as they had to settle for a point against Wicklow in Aughrim.
Conall Jones and Sean Quigley goaled in the opening half to give the Ernesiders a 2-04 to 0-02 lead at the break.
That lead became nine shortly after the resumption but a Dean Healy green flag inspired the Wicklow revival.
Andy Maher levelled before Gary McKenna restored Fermanagh's advantage. However Oisin McGraynor nailed a last-gasp free to ensure parity for the hosts.
