Louth 5-9 Offaly 3-10:LOUTH PRODUCED a good comeback to triumph against a fancied Offaly side in O'Connor Park, Tullamore, yesterday afternoon.

Offaly looked to be coasting when they led by 2-9 to 1-5 six minutes into the second half but in the next six minutes, the game changed. First Páraic Smith punched a Louth goal and then Offaly wing back Conor Carroll was red-carded following an off-the-ball incident.

A well-taken Ken Casey goal put Offaly 3-9 to 2-7 ahead with 16 minutes left but it was all Louth after this as they made their numerical advantage count.

Smith completed his hat-trick of goals and JP Rooney got in for two more goals in the closing quarter.

Goals from Ciarán McManus and Niall McNamee (penalty) helped Offaly into a 2-2 to 0-2 lead after 20 minutes. Smith’s first goal kept Louth in touch and they trailed by 2-6 to 1-4 at the break.

LOUTH: N Gallagher; D Byrne (0-1), D Finnegan, J O’Brien; R Finnegan, M Fanning, S Fitzpatrick; P Keenan, B White (0-4 two frees); M Brennan (0-1), A McDonnell (0-2), A Reid (0-1); C Judge, P Smith (3-0), JP Rooney (2-0). Subs: D Clarke for Judge (h/t), R Greene for O’Brien (43 mins), A Hoey for Brennan (68 mins).

OFFALY: A Mulhall; J Gallagher, P McConway, B Darby; C Carroll, R Dalton, C Kiely; J Coughlan, B Connor; R Brady (0-1, free), J Reynolds (0-4), C McManus (1-1, one free); D Egan, K Casey (1-1, one free), N McNamee (1-3, goal from a penalty). Substitutions: A Lynam for Egan (54 mins), S Ryan for Coughlan (61), S Lonergan for Dalton (62).

Referee: R Moloney (Limerick).