Louth finished both halves more strongly to beat Antrim before a sparse attendance at Drogheda yesterday.

After a lively opening eight minutes Louth led by 0-5 to 1-1 with Antrim's goal forced over the line by Kevin Brady after goalkeeper Niall O'Donnell had blocked Declan Gallagher's shot.

Alan Doherty was deadly accurate for the home side, scoring six first-half points, four from frees.

Louth added three injurytime points to lead 0-10 to 1-3 at the interval. Points from Kevin Madden, Peter McCann and Ronan Hamill reduced the gap to just a point five minutes into the second half.

However, Louth introduced Colin Kelly, who had been out for three months following a groin operation, and he marked his return with three points and a hard-working performance.

Louth sealed victory when Cathal O'Hanlon cannoned a shot off Antrim goalkeeper Donard Shannon into the back of the net after 50 minutes to push Louth 1-14 to 1-7 clear.

LOUTH: N O'Donnell; B Phillips, S Melia, N Malone; C Fitzpatrick, G O'Neill, J Clerkin; A O'Neill (0-1), K Reilly; A Rooney (0-1), S O'Neill (0-1), N Sharkey (0- 1); D Reilly, C O'Hanlon (1-2), A Doherty (0-8, six frees). Subs: B Reilly for Fitzpatrick, S Gerard for Clarkin, C Kelly (0-3) for Rooney.

ANTRIM: D Shannon; M Mulholland, C McKearney, B Elliott; G Adams, C O'Neill (0-1, free), P McCann (0-1); J Quinn (0- 1), J Murphy; M Boyle, A Donnelly, K Brady (1-1); D Gallagher, R Hamill (0-1), K Madden (0-3, two frees). Subs: G Flynn for Hamill, G Nugent for Gallagher.

Referee: E Stenson (Leitrim).