Despite being outscored by 1-5 to 0-2 in the final third of this ESB Leinster MFC opener at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday evening, Meath proved too strong for neighbours Louth. Meath 1-14 Louth 1-9 Meath advance to the last eight of the provincial competition in five weeks time (the draw for which will be made later) while Louth are away to Laois in the qualifiers next Saturday. Having established a 1-12 to 0-4 lead by the 39th minute, Meath appeared to ease up though their opponents were helped by the award of a soft penalty and the dismissal of The Royals full-back Ciaran Lenehan. Kevin Rogers expertedly netted the penalty low to his left, wrong footing Meath 'keeper Padraig Curran in the 48th minute after Louth substitute Barry Hamilton was adjudged to have been fouled. That cut the deficit to six points, 1-7 to 1-13, and Lenehan - who was one of the winners' best performers - was red-carded shortly afterwards. Reporters and spectators were at a loss to explain the decision as was Meath manager Pat Coyle afterwards. A point from Meath substitute Darragh Smyth - who was unable to start through injury - steadied the home side while Curran pulled off fine save from Rogers. Points from Eamon O'Neill (the only Louth forward to register) and James Califf (45) closed out the scoring but the outcome was never really in doubt. Both sides struggled to cope with the blustery conditions and unfancied Louth hit the front twice in the early stages. Meath hit the front for the first time when Michael Newman blazed over the bar in the 11th minute and extended their advantage through Enda Nulty, Jake Regan (who scored two fine efforts from play in the opening half) and Mark Battersby. Effort from Califf (free) and O'Neill cut the deficit to two points, 0-4 to 0-6, by the 22nd minute. Four points on the spin left it 0-10 to 0-4 to Meath at the break. Within seconds of the restart Andrew Tormey fisted a Jake Regan centre to the Louth net and two pointed Mark Battersby frees left it 1-12 to 0-4. Califf landed another free in the 41st minute before Meath substitute David Ryan's through ball found Jamie Owens who pointed. Two further efforts from O'Neill cut the gap two nine points but despite that late flourish the outcome was never in doubt. Meath - P. Curran; D. Tobin, C. Lenehan, S. O'Brien; E. Nulty (0-2), T. Johnson, D. Kelly; J. Owens (0-1), D. Carroll; D. McNamara, M. Newman (0-3, 2 fs), M. Collins (0-1); J. Regan (0-3, 1 f), A. Tormey (1-0), M. Battersby (0-3, 2 fs). Subs - W. Carry for Tobin (34 mins), D. Ryan for Carroll (41 mins), D. Smyth (0-1) for McNamara (49 mins), J. Kelly for D Kelly (57 mins), B. Menton for Johnson (60 mins). Louth - P. Keelan; H. O'Connell, M. Sherlock, P. Englishby; P. Bannon, D. Moloney, J. Craven; J. Califf (0-5 3fs, 1 45), K. Rogers (1-0 pen); K. McMahon, A. McDonnell, E. O'Neill (0-4); D. Matthews, B. O'Hare, C, Dalton. Subs - B. Hamilton for Dalton (ht), P. Hoey for Sherlock, D. O'Hanlon for McMahon (both 38 mins), R .Moore for O'Hare (56 mins). Referee - B O'Shea (Dublin). Tweet

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