Leinster SFC Quarter-Final

MEATH 0-27 LOUTH 3-9

By Paul Keane at Parnell Park

A storming surge down the home straight at Parnell Park eased Meath to an exciting Leinster senior football championship quarter-final victory over old rivals Louth.

Captain Graham Reilly led by example with seven points overall and an inspired final 20 minutes or so as Meath outscored Louth by 0-14 to 1-0 in that period to turn a tight game into a big win.

Louth had threatened a first win in the Championship over Meath in 42 years, to gain a modicum of revenge for the 2010 Leinster final debacle, when they led 2-9 to 0-13 with 22 minutes left.

They took that lead thanks to a bizarre goal from Ronan Holcroft who kicked into an empty net after Meath goalkeeper Paddy O'Rourke momentarily lost his bearings.

Louth went on to grab a third goal late on through Conal McKeever but simply couldn't deal with the power and pace of Meath's attack in the final quarter of the game.

Reilly was terrific in his first Championship game as captain and hit a succession of scores while substitutes Thomas Reilly, Ruairi O Coileain and Sean Tobin all weighed in with important points when it counted.

Meath's reward is a June 17 semi-final clash with Kildare while Louth head to the qualifiers hoping to extend their summer.

There was excitement before the thrown-in as Meath were forced into an unexpected late change.

James McEntee, nephew of boss Andy, injured his hip in the warmup and James Toher started instead, making his summer debut having captained the Meath hurlers last year.

It proved a blessing in disguise as Toher had a strong first-half, kicking four points and nailing two excellent scores from open play, and went on to score five points overall.

Skipper Reilly started strong too and blasted a brace of points in the opening 10 minutes.

Meath moved 0-5 to 0-2 clear and had a third minute goal chance when Donal Keogan's shot was well saved.

They cut through Louth's defence with ease and had three more gilt edge goal chances in the first-half but Cillian O'Sullivan, Bryan McMahon and Donal Lenihan all wasted them.

Meath still led by 0-8 to 0-4 after 23 minutes but 1-1 from Louth star Jim McEneaney tied the game up.

McEneaney, one of three late additions to the Louth lineup, hit a great point before nailing a 29th minute penalty after a deliberate body collide by Meath full-back Conor McGill which warranted a black card.

Donal Lenihan responded with two points to leave Meath marginally ahead at the break, 0-10 to 1-06, but the drama was only just beginning.

Louth impressed after the restart and were gifted a remarkable 39th minute goal when Holcroft intercepted O'Rourke's kick-out and then kicked back into an empty net with O'Rourke, apparently, losing his bearings and standing at his left upright.

James Califf came in and added two points for Louth who were two points clear and eyeing up a first win over Meath in the Championship since 1975.

But they couldn't finish it off as Meath turned on the afterburners and powered down the home straight with Louth powerless to prevent the onslaught.

​Scorers for Meath: Graham Reilly 0-7, Donal Lenihan 0-6 (0-3f, 1 45), James Toher 0-5 (0-3f), Thomas Reilly 0-2, Bryan McMahon 0-2, Ruairi O Coileain 0-2, Cillian O'Sullivan 0-1, Ronan Jones 0-1, Sean Tobin 0-1.

Scorers for Louth: Jim McEneaney 1-2 (1-0 pen), Conal McKeever 1-0, Ronan Holcroft 1-0, James Califf 0-3 (0-1f), Ryan Burns 0-2 (0-2f), Anthony Williams 0-1, Bevan Duffy 0-1.

**MEATH: **Paddy O'Rourke; Donnacha Tobin, Conor McGill, Mickey Burke; Pauric Harnan, Donal Keogan, Shane McEntee; Bryan Menton, Ronan Jones; James Toher, Cillian O'Sullivan, Eamon Wallace; Graham Reilly, Bryan McMahon, Donal Lenihan. **Subs: **David McQuillan for McGill (30, black card), Ruairi O Coileain for S McEntee (52), Cian O'Brien for Menton (55), Thomas Reilly for McMahon (59), Sean Tobin for O'Sullivan (69).

LOUTH: Craig Lynch; Patrick Reilly, Kevin Carr, Padraig Rath; John Bingham, Liam Dullaghan, Anthony Williams; Tommy Durnin, James Stewart; Declan Byrne, Jim McEneaney, Bevan Duffy; Paraic Smith, Eoin O'Connor, Ryan Burns. Subs: Kurt Murphy for Rath (20), Andy McDonnell for Byrne (26), Ronan Holcroft for Carr (29, black card), Conal McKeever for Dullaghan (h/t), James Califf for Durnin (41), Ruairi Moore for Smith (70).

**Referee: **B. Cassidy (Derry)