Leitrim missed out on a Lory Meagher Cup final appearance following a 2-18 to 2-16 loss to Louth at Ballinamore in the final round of group fixtures.
Gavin O’Hagan opened the scoring for Leitrim within a minute of throw-in before Louth eventually settled to lead 0-8 to 0-4 on 19 minutes.
Leitrim responded impressively and James McNabola’s goal on 20 minutes helped Leitrim draw level by half-time where the sides were deadlocked at 1-8 to 0-11.
Louth moved six points clear when Darren Geoghegan found the net on 48 minutes but Leitrim replied four minutes later with a goal from Brendan Delaney. Suddenly, it was back to a two-point game.
The sides cancelled each other out thereafter as Louth ran out two-point winners with Jamie McDonnell adding a second goal three minutes from time.
Louth will now play Longford in the Lory Meagher Cup final on the fourth weekend in May.
