Longford eased to a facile 1-17 to 1-4 quarter-final victory over Louth at Newtowncashel tonight.

Both these teams were in preliminary-round action last week, with Longford thumping Wicklow, while the Wee County edged out Carlow. Tonight, there was only one team in it as Frank McNamee's charges followed up a 17-point win with a 13-point victory to set up a mouth-watering semi-final meeting with Dublin.

The winners, who hit 1-6 without reply in the last 21 minutes, also bossed the first half to lead by 0-8 to 0-2 at half time, with Louth failing to register from play before the break.

Full forward Patrick Kiernan fisted over the first point of the match inside the opening minute and the impressive Larry Moran followed up with a brace for the quick-out-of-the-blocks midlanders, who led by three points to no score after six minutes.

Ryan Burns (free) finally opened the Wee County's account after Liam Connerton has notched the hosts' fourth and it was Killoe Emmet Og dangerman Moran who was on hand to make it 0-5 to 0-1 after 19 minutes.

The hosts continued to dominate and had six points on the board by the time Burns fired the Wee County's second point from another free; the victors added two more before the break. Wing back Liam Sullivan and Shane Kenny (two frees) registered the home side's last three points before the short whistle.

The winners moved further ahead by registering three of the first five points of the second half but captain Conor Grimes' goal for the Wee County on 38 minutes gave the visitors a glimmer of hope, 0-11 to 1-4. However, Longford found the next score through Moran to lead by five points at the three-quarters stage and then simply ran riot.

The midlanders moved into a nine-point lead when Connerton followed up on his own point by slamming home their goal on 51 minutes. When Moran pointed seven minutes from the end, it was 1-15 to 1-4 and the procession continued from there to the final whistle.

Longford - C Farrell; R Sweeney, A Farrell, C Shields; D Reynolds, C Farrelly, L Sullivan (0-1); F Sheridan, A Dalton (0-1); R McNerney, S Kenny (0-2f), R Connor (0-1); L Moran (0-6, 2f), P Kiernan (0-1), L Connerton (1-4, 0-1f). Subs: D McGivney (0-1) for S Kenny, M Gorman for R Sweeney, K Farrell for F Sheridan, A McBrien for L Sullivan, P Farrell for P Kiernan, V Hourican for R McNerney.

Louth - D Breen; A Smith, C Kirk, J Connolly; K Faulkner, J Stewart, B Faulkner; D Marks, W Campbell; R Carr, E Lafferty, R Quigley; R Burns (0-4, 3f), C Doyle, C Grimes (1-0). Subs: S Kilcoyne for A Smith, C Carthy for K Faulkner, J Hanna for D Marks, C Ward for C Kirk, D Maguire for C Doyle, C Sheridan for W Campbell.

Referee - D Hickey.

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