Laois 1-15 Louth 1-11 Laois withstood a spirited revival from Louth at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon to book a Leinster SFC semi-final place. The O'Moore County appeared to be coasting to victory when they led by ten points (1-13 to 0-6) midway through the second half. However, a goal from Aaron Hoey as well as points from Darren Clarke, Shane Lennon and Hoey saw the margin reduced to just three points as the clock ticked towards 70 minutes. Indeed, Eamonn McEneaney's men could have reason to feel aggrieved as a penalty appeal saw some hesitation from referee Michael Duffy, but having looked likely to award the penalty, the Sligo official eventually gave the decision Laois' way. Thereafter, Sean Dempsey's side were not to be denied and the unerring MJ Tierney ended any uncertainty with a 35-metre free in the solitary minute of injury time added on. Laois had made the most of the wind advantage before the break to take an eight-point lead into the half-time interval. The goal, which arrived in the fifth minute, owed plenty to good fortune, with a long-range effort for a point from Padraig Clancy evading Louth goalkeeper Stuart Reynolds to nestle in the back of the net. Clancy had opened the scoring with a point inside a minute and went on to add a further two over the remainder, while Tierney's accuracy from placed balls saw him to a personal tally of 0-6. Laois again started well in the second half, with Tierney and Clancy raising white flags, and any possibility of a Louth revival could have been blown out of the water had Peter O'Leary found the net from a clear goal chance. He missed, and Louth were able to build up momentum in the final quarter but in the end time ran out on the Wee County's hopes. Laois - M Nolan; C Ryan, M Timmons, R Stapleton; D Rooney (0-1), G Reddin, J O'Loughlin (0-1); P Clancy (1-3), K Meaney; B Quigley, B McCormack (0-1), P O'Leary (0-2); MJ Tierney (0-6, 5f), R Munnelly (0-1), D Kingston. Subs - P McNulty for Kingston (56), C Goss for Munnelly (68). Louth - S Reynolds; P Rath, D Finnegan, J O'Brien; D Crilly, M Fanning, G Hoey; B White (0-3, 3f), P Keenan (0-1); R Finnegan, R Carroll, D Reid; C Judge (0-1), S Lennon (0-2, 1f), D Clarke (0-3, 1f). Subs - A Reid for D Reid (30), A Hoey (1-1) for Crilly (44), JP Rooney for Judge (47), P Smith for White (68). Ref - Marty Duffy (Sligo). Tweet

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