Meath 0-20

Louth 1-13

A seven-point haul from Mickey Newman helped Meath advance to a Leinster SFC semi-final meeting with Dublin as they eased past Louth at Parnell Park.

The Royals sparkled at times and while they have plenty to work on - and should have been further ahead by the business end - boss Mick O'Dowd will be satisfied that there are real signs of progress.

Chief among the positives was the performance of speedster Eamon Wallace, who scored 0-4 from play, and was a thorn in Louth's side throughout.

Meetings between the counties are always framed by the controversial 2010 Leinster final and it was referenced many times in the build-up here; however, there was no doubt as to which side deserved to march on.

Meath were ahead by five, 0-11 to 0-6, at the break, having spurned plenty of good chances.

Louth led by 0-3 to 0-2 after 10 minutes following points from Ryan Burns (two, one free) and a super score from Anthony Williams, with Newman and Wallace on the mark for the would-be winners.

Newman, Cillian O'Sullivan and Wallace, with a brilliant score, made it 0-5 to 0-3 on the quarter-hour mark and when Graham Reilly got in on the act, Meath were cruising.

Bevan Duffy, who was later black-carded, pulled one back for Louth, who scored just 0-2 from play in the first half. The Wee County pulled back three in a row early in the second-half, James Califf grabbing two, to cut the hap to two but O'Dowd's men replied strongly.

The Royals kicked four points in succession, Andy Tormey to the fore and Newman nailing a '45', and they were six up entering the home stretch, which gave them enough of a cushion to hold on despite Jim McEneaney's 64th minute goal for Louth.

Meath now face holders Dublin in the last four of the province, while the Wee County must travel to Owenbeg and defeat Derry to keep their championship hopes alive.

Meath - P O'Rourke; D Tobin, D Keogan, M Burke; D Smyth, P Harnan, A Douglas; H Rooney, C O'Brien (0-1); E Wallace (0-4), G Reilly (0-3), C O'Sullivan (0-2); A Tormey (0-3), M Newman (0-7, 6f, 1'45), D McDonagh. Subs: C Finn for D Tobin, B McMahon for D McDonagh, D Lenihan for A Tormey, S Tobin for G Reilly.

Louth - C Lynch; P Rath, P Reilly, K Toner; A Williams (0-2), D McMahon, D Maguire; J Stewart, J Califf (0-4, 3f); D Byrne (0-2), J McEneaney (1-0), B Duffy (0-1); C McKeever, C Grimes, R Burns (0-4, 3f). Subs: R Moore for B Duffy (BC), E Lafferty for D McMahon, A Reid for C McKeever, J Bingham for K Toner, G McSorley for D Byrne.

Referee - P Hughes.

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