Laois were always on the back foot in a game which saw brothers Tommy and Damien Freeman, Mark Downey and Paul Finlay all bag impressive goals.

Indeed, it did not take the visitors long to raise the opening green flag, when Finlay burst through for a fourth-minute goal.

The centre-forward pounced on a breaking ball 65 metres out from the Laois goal after some indecision by Pauric Clancy and Ger Reddin.

Finlay went on bursting run before finishing clinically to the back of the Laois net.

Monaghan were dominant at midfield and Finlay and Darren Hughes playing good support roles for Dick Clerkin and Owen Lennon.

All six of Monaghan's starting forwards were on target inside the opening quarter as the Farney men raced into a 1-8 to 0-1 lead with Laois's lone score arriving from a MJ Tierney free.

Free flowing football was the order of the day from a Monaghan side who showed few frailties in their play, amassing just three wides by half-time.

Laois were left wondering how they would pick up the pieces at the interval as Monaghan held a commanding 3-12 to 0-2 lead.

Magheracloone brothers Tommy and Damien Freeman had provided plenty for the large travelling support to cheer about in the closing ten minutes of the first half, with Tommy linking with full-forward Ray Ronaghan before palming home a 26th-minute goal.

Eager to get in on the goalscoring act, Damien's powerful run from his half-back berth after a good hand-passing movement provided Monaghan's third goal, two minutes before the break.

Following a dismal first half, Laois manager Sean Dempsey was eager for his side to gain some respect in the second half and the introduction of Brian McCormack and Peter O'Leary added some strength for the O'Moore's.

But it went from bad to worse for the hosts with Tierney sent-off in the 38th minute, and although Laois outscored their opponents by 0-4 to 0-2 in the final quarter, there was only ever going to be one winner as Monaghan secured promotion and a final berth.