LATE points from Louth's Seamus O'Hanlon and Tommy Dowd of Meath edged Leinster into the Railway Cup football final at Pairc Tailteann, Navan yesterday.

The sides were level four times in the first half, which ended at 0-4 each, before Louthman Colin Kelly edged the eventual winners ahead for the first time three minutes after the restart.

Substitute Padraig Kenny soon regained the advantage for Connacht with a rasping shot to the net, which was followed by a point from Tom Ryan, who started at midfield for Connacht instead of Liam McHale.

With eight minutes to go, Kelly was fouled for a penalty, which he confidently converted, and although Ryan levelled, Leinster finished stronger.