Tom Cribbin’s men were looking good for a place in the last eight when they led by 0-5 to 0-2 after 25 minutes, but their challenge fell apart, and they were out-scored by 1-11 to two points in the remainder of what was to become a one-sided contest.

Tomas Corrigan turned on the style with a spectacular attacking display and a 1-7 haul that included a cheeky lobbed goal in the closing stages.

Corrigan took over as the main Erne marksman on a day when Sean Quigley failed to fire, giving manager Pete McGrath welcome attacking options as he heads for a much greater challenge in Croke Park next month.

Shane Dempsey and John Connellan shot early points for a Westmeath side that adopted a more offensive approach than the strategy which they tried in vain to halt Dublin in the Leinster final.

Inevitably, they left gaps at the back, but poor Fermanagh finishing allowed them off the hook on numerous occasions.

Full back Kieran Gavin was getting the better of Fermanagh attacking ace Sean Quigley, but the Erne men went level in the ninth minute through Declan McCusker.

Marty O’Brien and Ryan McCluskey were always keen to push forward from the back, but both picked up black cards before the break, a severe double blow to Erne hopes.

Connellan, who had already converted two frees, slotted over a couple of delightful points from play, and John Gilligan’s effectiveness on broken ball around the middle helped the Leinster men maintain the pressure.

However, Fermanagh tightened things up at the back despite the loss of two key defenders, and Tiarnan Daly, Mickey and Niall Cassidy got through some excellent work.

They survived a difficult spell, and Tomas Corrigan made a sensational intervention in the closing stages of the half, hitting three points to drag his side back into it, and the sides went in at the break deadlocked on 0-5 each.

Westmeath simply failed to turn up for the second half, which was a story of Fermanagh dominance. They controlled the game in every sector, and should have had a greater winning margin, finishing with 16 wides.

Their superior fitness began to tell, and as the game wore on they grew in confidence.

Quigley swept over a long range score from play, while Corrigan continued to unerringly convert the frees.

Denis Glennon had brought Westmeath level in the 40th minute, but they went a further 25 minutes without a score, and during this drought, Fermanagh made hay, picking off scores which left them in a virtually unassailable position.

Even the loss of midfielder Eoin Donnelly to injury didn’t deter them, with Richard O’Callagahn and skipper Ryan Jones dominating around the middle.

Scores from Niall Cassidy and Declan McCusker put daylight between the teams, and Corrigan applied the glorious finishing touch with a magical late goal.

Fermanagh: T Treacy, M Jones, T Daly, N Cassidy (0-1), M O’Brien, R McCluskey, J McMahon, E Donnelly, R O’Callaghan, B Mulrone, R Jones, D McCusker (0-2), P McCusker, S Quigley (0-2, 1f), T Corrigan (1-7, 0-5f).

Subs: D Kelly (0-1) for O’Brien (17, BC), R Corrigan for McCluskey (28, BC), C Jones for Donnelly (43), C Cullen for Cassidy (69).

Westmeath: D Quinn, K Maguire, K Gavin, F Boyle, K Daly, P Holloway, J Dolan, D Corroon, P Sharry, J Gilligan, R Connellan (0-1, f), K Martin, J Connellan (0-4, 2f), D Glennon (0-1), S Dempsey (0-1).

Subs: G Egan for Connellan (h-t), D Lynch for Maguire (40), D Daly for Dempsey (40), G Connaughton for Quinn (55), L Smith for Glennon (57), P Greville for Holloway (57).

Referee: P Hughes (Armagh).