Longford win in Portlaoise

Longford 1-14 Waterford 1-5

Gallant Waterford put their qualifier differences aside to challenge Longford in Portlaoise, but the added quality of forwards of the ilk of Padraig Davis and the Barden brothers saw Dennis Connerton's side through.

The match as a contest was well-and-truly bedded by the half-time break, as Longford ran up a 1-08 tally to Waterford's two points, from Billy Harty (free) and Niall Corran.

Trevor Smullen laid off for giant forward Niall Sheridan to swivel on the square and feed Paul Barden on 24 minutes, in the move which led to Longford's goal.

Barden saw Davis in space and the Fr. Manning Gaels' forward finished with aplomb for a 1-04 to 0-01 lead.

With a host of changes on the Deise side, Billy Harty knocked over their opening score in the second minutes from 45 metres.

David Barden had, seconds earlier, notched the lead for Waterford and further points from Sheridan and Smullen, both punched efforts, Paul Barden, David Hannify, Davis, Paul Barden and Smullen again saw Longford nine in front.

The placed ball kicking of Davis, which earned him an enviable championship tally of 1-17 going into this tie, warded off any hopes of a Waterford comeback in the second half, although Connie Power did raise slim hopes with a goal with 15 minutes remaining.

Substitute John Moore and Lee Hayes (0-02) added points for Waterford in the second half but Davis (0-03), Paul Barden (0-02) and Sheridan closing out the win, with Davis fittingly the final scorer in injury time.