Louth 3-6 Laois 1-6:LOUTH REACHED reached the last four for the first time since 2007, helped by two goals from full-forward Conor Grimes.

Louth played into the breeze in the opening half and scored three points while the home team managed one less.

Laois took the lead seven minutes into the second half thanks to a Paul Kingston goal but Louth quickly responded with two three-pointers of their own through Conal McKeever and Conor Grimes.

Laois reduced the difference to one with a point from Dan Dunne with five minutes remaining before Grimes scooped the ball over the line for his second goal with three minutes left to play.

Colleges star Ciarán Byrne added a point as Louth held on.

LOUTH: J Mulholland; N McCabe, D Campbell, M Kane; C Bellew, D Grimes, D McMahon; R McCabe, M Breen; S Thornton, J Horan, C Smyth; C McKeever (1-1), C Grimes (2-0), C Byrne (0-5). Subs: F Sheridan for Horan, P Reilly for S Thornton, S McAuley for C Bellew.

LAOIS: G Brody; M Cahill, J Hearn, E George; P Murphy, P McEvoy, D Dunne (0-2); M Campion, K Bracken; M Scully (0-1), E Costelloe, S Attride (0-1); B Kenna, L McGovern, P Kingston (1-1). Subs: N Mullen for Kenna, Alan Farrell (0-1) for M Scully, J Campion for McGovern.

Referee: J Hickey (Carlow).