It was all too easy for the home side at Parnell Park on Saturday with three second half goals putting the issue beyond doubt in what was a rather one sided contest. Louth can be thankful to have had the services of keeper, David Woods, who did his best to keep his team in contention as the Dublin forwards ran amok early on. However, he had no chance when Ciaran Corrigan netted at the second attempt after just three minutes.

By half time Dublin led 1-6 to 0-3, Louth's only scores coming in the form of frees from Kevin McGeough and Darren Clarke.

Louth eventually sent over their first point from play from Martin Brennan but the game was effectively over five minutes after the restart with Graham Cullen and John Noonan both finding the net.

DUBLIN: P Copeland; D Galvin, M Fitzpatrick, G Dent; P Griffin, B Cullen (1-0), B Lyons; M Whelan, D O'Mahony (0-1); N McAuliffe (0-6, 2 frees), J Noonan (1-2, 2 frees), M Taylor; D O'Callaghan (0-3), G Cullen (1-0), C Corrigan (1- 0). Subs: D Farrell (0-1) for Corrigan (40 mins), G Brennan for Whelan (46 mins), A Cromwell for Noonan (54 mins), C Hore for O' Callaghan (64 mins).

LOUTH: D Woods; P Malone, J Kelly, J Kermath; D Finegan, B Sharkey, A Farrell; E Breen, J Doyle; D Reid (0-1), M McGeown, J Gallagher; K McGeough (0-2, frees), N Shevlin, D Clarke (0-1, free). Subs: M Brennan (0-2) for Finnegan (24 mins), E Kelleher for Shevlin (39 mins).

Referee: T Quigley (Wexford).