Louth sought a bright start but it was Roscommon's Kevin Connelly who opening the scoring after Kevin Connelly pointed from out wide in the third minute. However, Louth responded almost immediately through corner forward Brian Corcoran. Pearse Og's Gerard Smyth opened his account in the fifth minute and Corcoran extended Louth's lead in the tenth, punishing the Rossies growing wide count. The men from the West though got back on level terms by the fifteenth minute thanks to scores from Gary Fallon and a fine effort from play from midfielder Declan Nolan. Smyth put Louth back in front soon after but the tense affair was brought level once again in the twenty second minute by Roscommon centre back Michael Kelly who pointed from 70 metres. Louth began to turn up the heat on the visitors and a brace of scores from the impressive Smyth, and another from David Dunne put the men from the Wee County into a deserved lead approaching the half hour mark. A free from Fallon narrowed the gap only for Donagh O'Sullivan to open his account, chipping in with a beautiful score from play. A fine save from James Connolly kept the Louth goal in tact, but he couldn't prevent Fallon from grabbing his third point of the opening half. Referee Fergal Smith and his team of officials were called into action on the stroke of half time as they ruled out a Shane Callan 'goal' for a square ball. Despite feeling aggrieved by the decision, Louth persevered and they were rewarded for their first half endeavour, when Diarmuid Murphy brilliantly blocked down Padraig Dolan's attempted clearance and the ball ended up in the back of the net.
Half-time: Louth 1-08 Roscommon 0-06

The second half was just two minutes old when Nolan picked up his second point of the contest. However, moments later all thoughts were with Fallon who picked up a nasty hip injury and after lengthy treatment on the pitch, the Roscommon forward was removed by ambulance. Following the twenty minute stoppage it was Louth who sprung into action and some great stick play from Corcoran set up a goal chance for Murphy and the Naomh Moninne man made no mistake, rifling the ball past the hapless Dolan. John Coyne responded immediately with his first point from a placed ball, but this was cancelled out by a point from corner forward Diarmuid O'Sullivan. Coyne pointed another free for the visitors and another point from Connelly narrowed the gap with seventy minutes on the clock. As the fourth official informed the players of twenty minutes additional time, David Kettle scored Louth's third goal of the game following some good slick hand passing in the forward line. Kettle's goal spurred Roscommon into action and two quick points from Kelly and Coyne were soon followed by a well taken goal from Coyne left just three points between the sides as the game entered the twelfth minute of injury time. Another free from Coyne and a 65' from Kelly reduced the gap to the minimum as Louth hung on desperately awaiting the final whistle. There were chances for both sides in the remaining minutes but after twenty three minutes of added on time, referee Smith blew his whistle for the last time of the contest and a jubilant Louth side, substitutes, sideline, supporters et al, celebrated a famous victory. The positive performance on the back of the resounding defeat to London, brought about the deserved victory and a place in the semi-final against Monaghan.
Full-time: Louth 3-09 Roscommon 1-14

LOUTH: James Connolly; Mark Wallace, Conor Kerrigan, Adrian Wallace; Ronan Byrne, Derek Horan, Donagh O’Sullivan (0-1); David Dunne (0-1), Gerard Smyth (0-4); David Kettle (1-0), Shane Callan, Diarmuid Murphy (2-0); Diarmuid O’Sullivan (0-1), Wesley Morrissey, Brian Corcoran (0-2). Subs: Domhnall McArdle for Donagh O’Sullivan, Kevin McNally for Wesley Morrissey.

ROSCOMMON: Padraig Dolan; Shane Curley, Ian Delaney, Brian Donnelly; Alan Moore, Michael Kelly (0-3), Padraig Kelly; John Moran, Declan Nolan (0-02); Peter Kellehan, Kevin Connelly (0-2), Gary Fallon (0-03); Jamie Lawlor, Gerry Fallon, John Coyne (1-04).