A sterling second half performance saw Louth through to the Tommy Murphy Cup quarter-finals as they overcame Clare by 2-14 to 3-09 at Cusack Park tonight.
The first half was a tightly contested affair but the Wee men got off to a flying start – Shane Lennon cut through and netted after barely 30 seconds.
Christy Grimes and Brian Considine then swapped points, David Russell tagged on Clare's second but a brace from Mark Stanfield, whose evening was ended by injury, and JP Rooney extended Louth's lead to 1-03 to 0-02.
A fine move played in Stephen Hickey for a 20th-minute goal for Clare and the sides went in at the break locked at 1-04 apiece.
Once more, the visitors made the better start on the resumption – three points within the space of six minutes showed their intent, but Clare came back strong with midfielder Padraig Neylon slipping home their second goal.
Clare lined out without their Doonbeg and Kilmurry-Ibrickane players, although Odhran and Peter O'Dwyer did come off the bench for the second half to help the hosts shore up some gaps.
Louth were four points clear when their midfielder Paddy Keenan waltzed through the Banner defence and drove home their second goal. Louth boss Eamonn McEneaney did have a headache for the final quarter when corner forward JP Rooney was sent off for his second bookable offence.
Hickey then ensured a frantic finish, as with the men from Leinster four points clear again and with just a minute remaining, he grabbed his second goal. But Keenan steadied his side with a classy point to set up a clash with Monaghan in the next round.
Clare scorers: S Hickey 2-01, M O'Shea 0-04 (3f), P Neylon 1-00, B Considine, G Quinlan, O O'Dwyer, D Russell 0-01 each
Louth scorers: P Keenan, S Lennon (1f) 1-02 each, J O'Brien, C Grimes (2f), B White (1 '45') 0-02 each, M Stanfield, C Judge, JP Rooney, D Reid 0-01 each
