John Gallagher's injury-time free completed a tremendous Louth comeback as they edged out Offaly by 0-15 to 1-11 in a dramatic Leinster MFC quarter-final at Drogheda.

Favourites Offaly looked set for an easy win when they stormed into a 1-5 to 0-1 lead after just 11 minutes, but the hosts refused to lie down and eventually prevailed without needing a goal.

Cian Johnston gave the Faithful County a dream start with an early goal, while Johnston, Sean Farrell, Cian Farrell, Jack O'Brien and Conor Lynam added points to leave the slow-starting Wee County with a mountain to climb. But they gradually clawed their way back into it and trailed by 0-7 to 1-8 at the break thanks to scores from Conor Morgan, Gallagher and Eoghan Callaghan.

Further points from Morgan, Ciaran Keenan and Gallagher (free) had the sides level at 0-11 to 1-8 with 17 minutes to go. In a tense final quarter, Gallagher ('45') and Jack McEvoy traded points before the former won it for Louth at the death.

Louth - A McGauley; A Connor, P Trainor, D Corcoran; l Grey, E Callaghan (0-1), J O'Reilly; L Jackson, C Morgan (0-2); G Garland, B Mooney, F Malone (0-3); K O'Neill, C Keenan (0-1), J Gallagher (0-8, 4f, 1'65). Subs: J Murphy for G Garland, N Browne for J O'Reilly (BC), C Gillespie for B Mooney, S Byrne for K O'Neill, C Nicholson for C Morgan.

Offaly - J McEvoy (0-1f); J O'Brien (0-1), L Gavin Mangan, E Dunne; C Donnelly (0-1), E Bennett, A Owens; M Newman, S Ibbotston; S Farrell (0-2), C Lynam (0-1), B Fogarty; C Johnston (1-2), N Poland, C Farrell (0-3, 1f). Subs: D Nally for B Fogarty, R O'Neill for M Newman, K Hartnett for S Farrell, C McCarthy for A Owens.

Referee - D Hickey.

 

Yesss!!! John Gallagher Free In Added Time pic.twitter.com/xxyWhNPRye

- Louth GAA (@louthgaa) May 20, 2017

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