Louth emerged from the Wicklow fortress in Aughrim yesterday with a win which puts them into the O'Byrne Cup final and also gives them a psychological boost ahead of the National League clash between the sides in Drogheda next Sunday.

However, their victory was marred by a serious knee injury to corner back Declan O'Sullivan who was stretchered off midway through the second half.

That was the only blip in an impressive Louth display. Aidan O'Neill and Ken Reilly ran midfield, O'Sullivan - before his injury - Arron Hoey, Brian Keenan and Stephen Melia snuffed out the Wicklow attack and Cathal O'Hanlon, Alan Doherty and Alan Rooney took their chances up front.

Louth led by 0-6 to 0-5 at halftime, but they killed off an under-strength Wicklow side in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. Seamus O'Hanlon and O'Neill hit two points and then Rooney finally beat goalkeeper Tommy Murphy, who had kept Wicklow in the match with some great saves.

Louth: N O'Donnell; D O'Sullivan, B Keenan, D Brennan; S Melia, A Hoey, B O'Reilly; A O'Neill (0-1), K Reilly; A Doherty (0-3), S O'Hanlon (0-1), A Rooney (1-0); C O'Hanlon (0-3), V Gargan (0-2), N Sharkey. Subs: O McDonnell for O'Sullivan.

Wicklow: T Murphy; D Doyle, B O hAnnaigh, T J Molloy; R Doyle, D Gordon, D Burke; C O'Sullivan (0-1), K Shannon; M Murtagh (0-2); S O'Neill (0-1), T McGivern; K Byrne, J Traynor (0-2), J Behan (0-2). Subs: S Byrne (0-1) for O'Neill; D Coffey for Burke; D Daly for Shannon.

Referee: E Whelan (Laois).