Shane O'Hanlon was Louth's match-winner as Colin Kelly's charges defeated Wicklow by 1-14 to 0-13 at Aughrim.

The Geraldines clubman, posted on the edge of the square, netted the only goal of the game eight minutes after the restart and also chipped in with three first-half points.

There was nothing to separate the sides during an evenly-contested first half which ended with them deadlocked on six points apiece.

Points from Mikey O'Connor, Alan Daly and Jonathan Delahunt had the hosts ahead by three points to two after 16 minutes, with Tony McKenna and O'Hanlon (free) on target for the Wee County. O'Hanlon equalised again in the 19^th minute but a free from O'Connor and a Chris O'Brien strike had the Garden County two to the good with ten minutes remaining in the first half.

Delahunt restored Wicklow's advantage after Barry Flanagan (free) and O'Hanlon had brought the away side back on terms but Dean Maguire lofted over the leveller in the last minute of an exciting opening period.

Points were shared following the resumption and Dara Hamill restored Louth's lead before O'Hanlon netted in the 38^th minute to give his side a 1-8 to 0-7 cushion. A Daly brace and two from O'Connor brought the hosts back on terms by the 47^th minute.

But Louth pulled away again with points from Sean Hand, Anthony McKenna, Robert Curran, Tadgh McEneaney and Maguire to lead by five with as many minutes remaining, 1-13 to 0-11. The home side refused to give up and hit back with two more points but McEneaney had the last say as the Reds won by four to set up a semi-final date with Kildare in a fortnight.

Louth - K Brennan; C Leneghan, D Finn, N McCabe; C Bellew, D Grimes, M Corcoran; D O'Connell, A McKenna (0-2); M Rafferty, D Lafferty, R Curran (0-1); B Flanagan (0-1), S O'Hanlon (1-4), D Maguire (0-2). Subs: D Hamill (0-1) for M Rafferty, C Hoey for M Corcoran, S Hand (0-1) for D Lafferty, T McEneaney (0-2) for B Flanagan, C Earley for D O'Connell, C Bellew for S O'Hanlon.

Wicklow - W Hender Phillips; E Kelly, P Higgins, C MacGorman; E Murtagh, J Snell, M Cullen; D Boothman, C O'Brien (0-1); C Doyle, C Ffrench, C McGee; M O'Connor (0-7, 3f), J Delahunt (0-2), A Daly (0-3). Subs: C Healy for C McGee, P Murtagh for C O'Brien.

Referee - D Hickey.

Colin Kelly speaks to his players following tonights win in Aughrim pic.twitter.com/H6TFYaqGEs

- Louth GAA (@louthgaa) May 18, 2016

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