The deadly accuracy of Louth marksman Darren Geoghegan was the key factor as they overcame Fermanagh in miserable conditions in Truagh, County Monaghan in their Division 4 final.
Geoghegan hit 0-09 including four 65s and this was most important on a day the Wee County and the Ernesiders hit 15 wides each, with the latter registering ten wides in a wind-assisted second half.
In the end, Louth's superior physique was crucial as Fermanagh tried hard to get back on terms but they will rue missing five clear-cut goal chances over the hour and those ten second-half wides
For Louth, ex-Offaly senior player Leon Fox and Conor Quigley were simply superb while Ryan Bogue and Caolan Duffy were the pick of the Fermanagh players.
Louth were quickly out of the blocks and Peter Fortune pointed after just 20 seconds.
But Fermanagh had a great chance of a goal when they unlocked the Louth defence as Jimmy Tormey found Francis McBrien who might have goaled had he pulled on the ball with his eventual shot going wide in the third minute.
Tom Keenan had another great chance of a goal 90 seconds later but his shot hit the post and went wide.
McBrien levelled for Fermanagh from a free before Louth wing-back Mark Gahan put his side back in front with a well struck long-range point.
But the Ernesiders responded with a well worked goal when Tormey found Sean Corrigan who hit the net and put his side into a 1-01 to 0-02 lead.
Gahan and Sean Conneely pointed for Louth as Corrigan replied with a fine point.
It was then that Geoghegan chipped in with the first of his six points on the trot, including three 65s.
Fermanagh had another chance of a goal, Tormey was through but elected to pass which was intercepted when a green flag looked on in the 25th minute. He subsequently pointed as both sides battled ferociously in the trying greasy conditions.
McBrien converted a free for Fermanagh as Louth spurned some easy scoring chances in a half where they hit nine wides.
Still, they were well worth their interval lead of 0-10 to 1-04.
It looked promising for the smaller and lighter Ernesiders as they turned over with the breeze, but it was Geoghegan who stretched Louth’s lead with an early free. McBrien responded in kind for Fermanagh before the Ulster outfit hit three poor wides on the spin.
Danny Teague and Luca McCusker were brought on for the Ernesiders with Paddy Lynch making his debut for Louth as both sides ran the benches.
Two points from John Duffy, one from a free, left just two points between the sides with Louth now leading 0-12 to 1-07.
Fermanagh were pressing but not scoring and sub Lynch lifted the siege with a well struck point and another white flag was raised by Geoghegan.
Fermanagh then had two goal chances in almost as many minutes.
The first came in the 62nd minute but Keenan saw his rasping shot fly across the goal and wide and Corrigan was smothered by Louth 'keeper and captain Conor Clancy a minute later.
That was the peak of their hopes as Louth held out with further points from full-forward Sean Flynn and Geoghegan with McCusker responding for Fermanagh.
Louth: Conor Clancy; John Casey, Conor Quigley, Stephen Ketttyles; Mark Gahan (0-02) Leon Fox, Leon Fox, Aaron McGuinness; Ben Goss Kieran, Sean Hodgins; Conor Murphy, Thomas McCreesh, Peter Fortune (0-01); Darren Geoghegan (0-09, 4'65s, 3fs) Sean Flynn (0-01), Sean Conneely (0-01).
Subs: Paddy Lynch (0-01) for McCreesh (41), James Costello for Goss Kieran (50), Sam Phelan for Conneely (62), David Stephenson (0-01) for Murphy (65).
Fermanagh: Chris McKernan; Ronan McGurn, Rory Porteous, Odhran Johnston; Ultan O’Reilly, Ryan Bogue, Thomas Duane; Caolan Duffy, Ciaran Duffy; Tom Keenan, Francis McBrien (0-03,2fs) John Duffy (0-02, 1f); Cahir McManus, Sean Corrigan (1-01) Jimmy Tormey (0-01).
Subs: Danny Teague for Ciaran Duffy (38), Luca McCusker for McManus (40), JP McGarry for McBrien (54), Danann McKeogh for John Duffy (65),
Referee: Michael Connolly (Sligo).
