Cross-border neighbours Armagh and Louth will meet in the Nicky Rackard Cup final in Croke Park on June 9 after they proved too strong for Roscommon and Donegal respectively this afternoon.

At the Morgan Athletic Grounds, Armagh were 4-12 to 1-17 victors over Roscommon with Conor Corvan helping himself to a first half hat-trick of goals. Martin Maguire also found the net for the hosts in a rip-roaring opening period, which also saw John Coyne grab a three-pointer for Roscommon.

Leading by 4-4 to 1-10 at the interval, the Orchard County maintained their advantage to leave themselves within 70 minutes of their second Rackard Cup success in three years.

In the other semi-final at Letterkenny's O'Donnell Park, Westmeath native Shane Fennell shot 1-5 as 2008 runners-up Louth powered to a 3-18 to 0-7 victory over Donegal.

The first half was keenly contested with scores from Niall Campbell, Eugene Organ, Ronan McDermott, Danny Cullen and Enda McDermott ensuring the home side only trailed by two points - 0-6 to 0-8 - at the break. But it was one-way traffic in the second half as two goals from David Dunne and another from Fennell eased Pat Clancy's charges into the decider. Tweet

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