There are fears that tomorrow's Leinster club SFC final may not go ahead after Met Éireann issued a Status Orange snow and ice warning for counties in the west, midlands and east.

The eagerly-awaited decider between St. Loman's (Westmeath) and Moorefield (Kildare) is due to take place in Portlaoise, but Laois is one of eight counties where significant falls of snow are forecast from tonight through the weekend.

Snowfalls of up to eight centimetres are forecast, with Met Éireann saying that temperatures could drop to as low as -5C. The snow and ice warning also covers Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Longford, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and Tipperary.

The Gardai have urged motorists to avoid unncessary journeys owing to icy roads.

"Met Éireann have issued an Orange weather warning for counties in Connacht, Ulster and Leinster and is valid from tonight Saturday 9th December, 2017 at 23:00 to Sunday 10th December, 2017 at 23:00.

"People living in areas where an Orange level weather warning has been issued should exercise extreme caution when travelling and avoid unnecessary journeys.

"There has already been falls of snow in parts of the country with more forecast and motorists are asked to heed the changing conditions," a statement from An Garda Siochana read.

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