Louth's first half tour de force was enough to secure safety in Division 2 for next season and secure the bragging rights over neighbours Meath.
With Down also winning, Ger Brennan’s side survive on head-to-head ruling with the Mourne men also on the same points.
Without Sam Mulroy, Louth produced a stellar shooting display to avoid relegation and deny the Royals promotion. Same setting as last season’s championship encounter, but Meath unrecognisable in form and team selection from that battle. Robbie Brennan named only four players that started that day, while Louth set out with slightly more experience in seven starters.
Meath against the wind to begin with held on to possession to limit the damage at the other end, the ploy worked briefly. The slow build-up play took the ball literally out of Louth’s forwards' hands but Meath failed to make headway, only frustrating themselves further.
With all the new enhancements, ironically, the crucial moment in the game was a short kick-out. With Louth unable to get going, Sean Reynolds intercepted the Billy Hogan restart, and slipped the ball to his Under-20 partner in crime from last season, Kieran McArdle.
McArdle had scored earlier in the campaign against Down but he might not score a more important one in his debut season. A low drive handed a flagging Louth side the confidence they required.
With Mulroy absent, Louth relied on Ryan Burns to take over the free-taking mantle and he did so with aplomb. The Hunterstown man was 90% and that would be more than enough.
Meath were relying on Jordan Morris for inspiration and he did keep them in touch but Burns' accuracy from out of his hands from beyond the arc was profound.
In general play, Louth were also countering with more intent without their talisman. Eoghan Frayne settled Robbie Brennan’s side with a two-point free but substitute Conor Branigan’s two two-pointers would prove crucial before the short whistle.
The shooting stretched the lead to eleven and Meath lacked the experience or shooting nous required in the second half.
Robbie Brennan’s side started brightly to begin with three quick scores in succession. Jack Flynn, Frayne and Aaron Lynch all finding the target.
The match was delayed due to an injury to Jordan Morris, which added to the general tension and constant checking of the news of venues elsewhere.
With Meath unable to make full use of the breeze from long range, Burns guided his side over the line with four second-half frees. That would suffice for another famous Louth victory in Inniskeen.
KEY: tp - two-point score; tpf - two-point free; tpm - two-point mark
Louth: Niall McDonnell; Dermot Campbell, Donal McKenny, Emmet Carolan (0-01); Daire Nally, Peter Lynch (0-01), Conall McKeever; Tommy Durnin (0-03, 1tp), Fearghal Malone; Andy McDonnell, Ciaran Downey, Paul Mathews; Kieran McArdle (1-01), Sean Reynolds, Ryan Burns (0-09, 0-05f, 2tpf).
Subs: Conor Branigan (0-04, 2tp) for A McDonnell (13), Dylan McKeown for Reynolds (45), Dara McDonnell for Malone (57), Liam Flynn for Downey (66).
Meath: Billy Hogan; Seamus Lavin, Sean Rafferty, Donal Keogan; Eoin Harkin, Brian O’Halloran, Ciaran Caulfield; Jack Flynn (0-02), Bryan Menton; Conor Duke, Jack Kinlough, Ruair Kinsella; Eoghan Frayne (0-04, 0-02f 1tpf), Jordan Morris (0-08, 2tp, 0-02f, 1tpf) , Aaron Lynch (0-01).
Subs: Matt Costello for Duke (44), Keith Curtis (0-02, 1tp)for Kinlough (51), Shane Walsh for Kinsella (60), Cathal Hickey for Lynch (60). Jason Scully for Harkin (68).
Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone)
