Tipperary...0-16 Louth...1-10: Declan Browne gave another majestic performance yesterday, scoring 10 points as Tipperary overcame a strong Louth challenge at Clonmel.

Browne opened his scoring exhibition with three points in the first quarter and, with Ollie McDonnell and Darren Clarke responding for Louth, the game was squared at four points each after 22 minutes.

Two quick points from Liam England restored Tipperary's lead, but they were rocked when, against the run of play, full forward McDonnell grabbed a 38-minute goal putting the visitors ahead 1-5 to 0-7 at half-time.

When play resumed the sides swopped scores with Browne, Micheál Webster and Fergal O'Callaghan leading the Tipp challenge and Clarke, McDonnell, Raymond Finnegan and Peter Keenan hitting the target for Louth.

The game was deadlocked 0-13 to 1-10 with three minutes to go, but late pressure saw the Louth defence concede a number of frees which Browne converted.

TIPPERARY: P Fitzgerald; B Hahessy, D Byrne, L Cronin; C Maher, R Costigan, N Fitzgerald; E Hanrahan, K Mulryan; M Webster (0-1), A Fitzgerald (0-1), L England (0-2); G Burke, D Browne (0-10, six frees), D O'Brien (0-1). Subs: P Halley for R Costigan; P Cahill for L Cronin; R Costigan for P Halley; F O'Callaghan for E Hanrahan; J Williams for L England.

LOUTH: S McCoy; R Kelly, J Kermath, J Carr; D Brennan, A Page, P Mallon; P McGuigan, S O'Neill; P Keenan (0-1), D Clarke (0-5, 0-3 frees), R Finnegan (0-1); D Bracken, O McDonnell (1-3), C Malone. Subs: C Grimes for D Bracken; D Brennan for P McGuigan; R Rooney for D Brennan.

Referee: H Beirne (Roscommon).