Louth 0-18 Athlone IT 1-8:A SECOND successive inter-county scalp proved a bridge too far for Athlone IT as holders Louth tightened their grip on the O'Byrne Cup with another high-scoring display in Drogheda.

Paddy Keenan and Colm Judge, with a brace of frees, got Louth off the mark and although the students stayed in touch with some superb free-taking from Ray Galligan and closed to within a point of their hosts on three occasions in the opening period.

Crucially, however, Louth closed the half out with points from Brian White and Keenan to lead 0-9 to 0-6 at the break.

Keenan added two more fine efforts after the restart as a more fluent Louth pushed five clear.

Brian Connors and John Reynolds twice reduced the gap back to four points during the third quarter, but Aaron Hoey and Ronan Greene kick-started a five-point sequence without reply.

That burst ended whatever hopes Athlone had of a comeback and although Connors punched to the net in the dying minutes, there was still time for Louth substitute Derek Maguire to leave his mark on proceedings.

LOUTH: N Gallagher; D Byrne, D Finnegan, R Greene (0-1); R Finnegan, A Hoey (0-1), J O’Brien; P Keenan (0-4), S O’Neill; D Crilly (0-1), A McDonnell (0-1), P Smith; C Judge (0-5, four frees), JP Rooney (0-1), B White (0-1, free). Subs: M Brennan (0-1) for O’Neill (41 mins), D Maguire (0-1) for Smith (44 mins), P Rath for Byrne (54 mins), D Clarke (0-1) for B White (54 mins), R Carroll for McDonnell (61 mins).

ATHLONE IT: G Conaughton; F O’Reilly, D Masterson, D Reilly; M Mitchell, K Smyth, P Masterson (0-1); G Dennigan, B Connors (1-1); P Bannon, J Reynolds (0-1), D Egan; R Galligan (0-5, all frees), D Cash, F Burke. Subs: N Judge for Cash (40 mins), C Duncan for O’Reilly (40 mins), D Reynolds for D Egan (57 mins), A Rowan for Smyth (58 mins).

Referee: A Lagrue (Kildare).