Louth claimed a Leinster minor shield semi-final place when beating Offaly by 2-12 to 1-11 in Tullamore.

Dublin, Longford and Wexford are the other sides that will fight it out for the shield.

The sides were deadlocked tonight on 1-11 each with time almost up but the Wee County won the game when Cathal Fleming struck his sixth second-half point and Ryan Walsh followed up with a terrific goal.

Cathal Flynn's goal got the hosts off to a flying start and a Flynn point followed by another from Jack Bryant ensured they held a 1-4 to 0-4 advantage four minutes from the break.

Aaron Kellaghan made it double scores but Craig Lennon netted to leave the minimum between them at the interval, 1-5 to 1-4.

Three unanswered Fleming frees made it 1-7 each after 40 minutes and it was nip and tuck from there to the final whistle, with the Wee County finishing strongest, adding to their win over Westmeath last week.

Louth - J McGillick; F Lynch, P McEvoy, T Jackson; R Hanlon, C Shevlin (0-1), G Bell (0-1); R Walsh (1-0), J Mee; B Butterly, D Nally, C Fleming (0-6, 4f); S Healy, C McCaul (0-3), C Lennon (1-1). Sub: C Quigley for J Mee.

Offaly - S O'Toole; A Brazil, K Dolan, B Nolan; E Cullen (0-1), R Egan, H Balsiger; C Donoghue, M Tynan (0-1); P Bennett, S Courtney, M Cunningham (0-2); J Bryant (0-3), A Kellaghan (0-2, 1f), C Flynn (1-1). Subs: J Nolan for P Bennett, D Lowry (0-1) for S Courtney, C Delaney for M Cunningham, L Egan for C Donoghue.

Referee - D Sheppard.

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