The Downs proved too strong for St Mary's of Ardee as they booked their place into the Leinster club senior football championship semi-finals against Ratoath at Croke Park in two weeks' time.

On the back of winning their first Westmeath SFC title in 17 years, Lar Wall's charges recorded an impressive 1-17 to 0-12 victory over the Louth champions at TEG Cusack Park this afternoon.

Luke Loughlin and Kevin O'Sullivan, both fresh from holidaying with the Tailteann Cup-winning Westmeath squad in Mexico this week, led The Downs attack superbly, scoring 0-5 and 1-1, respectively.

They got off to a super start when Loughlin pointed them ahead after 90 seconds before O'Sullivan capped off a flowing team move with a fine goal to make it 1-1 to 0-0 after two minutes.

St Mary's were always chasing after that but battled gamely throughout as injury-time points from Darren Clarke and Ciaran Keenan left the Ardee outfit trailing 1-8 to 0-5 at half-time.

But The Downs kept the foot on the floor to run out deserved eight-point winners, resuming with points from county hurler Niall Mitchell, O'Sullivan and Conor Coughlan.

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