The Oak Leaf county earned their first last four berth since 2001 as Muldoon and Paddy Bradley, fit again after a foot injury, helped themselves to a critical 2-02 in a dominant ten minute spell before half time. Muldoon's goal, a lovely claim and rising shot on the half hour, helped the Ulster side re-establish a four-point lead which they held until the break.

Two counties from the northern province now lie in final four, but Derry's performance will have to be added to, with just three scorers in all.

The Derry machine was on slow burn in the first quarter as Paidi O Se's side, mindful of a chance at a first ever semi-final spot, crept into a 0-03 to 0-01 lead.

But their reliance on the placed ball accuracy of Dessie Dolan and Fergal Wilson saw their rearguard undone by simple Derry attacks. Both Wilson and Dolan raised early white flags, with young Tyrrellspass forward Denis Glennon their only scorer from play in the first half (0-02).

Muldoon's second free on 15 minutes ended a scoring drought for Derry, and five minutes later they were celebrating a four-point advantage as Bradley cracked a crisp left-foot shot beyond Gary Connaughton and into the Westmeath net.

Glennon and Wilson (free) then traded scores with Muldoon and Bradley, both frees, before Dolan made it a one-point game with a 29th minute free.

Muldoon crucially took a superb catch over John Keane and Damien Healy to race through and blast past Connaughton on his right side, for 2-04 to 0-06. As Dolan's '45 and Bradley's injury time effort ended the half's scoring, Westmeath supporters were ruing Glennon's blocked goal shot with two minutes remaining, well saved by Barry Gillis.

A backfiring start to the second half saw Mickey Moran's side outscored five to one before Alan Mangan pointed on the hour to level the sides for just the second time. Substitutes Joe Fallon and Gary Dolan galvanised the Lake county attack, pointing three times themselves with Muldoon's sole 42nd minute free in reply.

Dessie Dolan, who grabbed 0-05 in all, pointed Paidi O Se's side with nine minutes remaining but a clinching trio of scores from substitute Eamonn Burke and two (1 free) from man-of-the-match Muldoon, saw Derry remain in the hunt for a first title since 1993.

Afterwards Muldoon commented: "Nobody gave us a chance coming down here. But we had beaten good up-and-coming sides in the qualifiers. We were happy to get a run out at Croke Park but we've got good, solid players and deserved to come through today."

Derry face the winners of the second quarter-final, Dublin and Kerry on August 29th.

Westmeath: G Connaughton; J Davitt, D O'Donoghue, J Keane; M Ennis, D Healy, G Heavin; R O'Connell, D O'Shaughnessy; B Morley, P Conway, F Wilson; A Mangan, D Glennon, D Dolan. Subs used: J Fallon for Wilson (36 mins), S Colleary for Morley (45), G Dolan for Conway (50)

Derry: B Gillis; K McGuckin, N McCusker, SM Lockhart; Francis McEldowney, P McFlynn, P Kelly; F Doherty, Patsy Bradley; J Donaghy, J McBride, C Moran; J Bradley, Paddy Bradley, E Muldoon. Subs used: G Donaghy for Moran (55 mins), E Burke for J Bradley (58), C Gilligan for McBride (61), G O’Kane for McCusker (63)

Yellow cards: Westmeath: D Healy (66 mins); Derry: N McCusker (38), Patsy Bradley (65)

Referee: M Curley (Galway)

Scorers: Westmeath: D Dolan 0-05 (3f, 1’45), F Wilson 0-02 (2f), D Glennon 0-02, J Fallon 0-02 (2f), G Dolan, A Mangan 0-01 each

Derry: E Muldoon 1-06 (4f), P Bradley 1-02 (1f), E Burke 0-01

HT: Westmeath 0-07 Derry 2-05