Laois 2-14

Longford 2-12

Laois have qualified directly for the Leinster MFC semi-finals after edging out Longford in a winner-takes-all clash at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park this evening.

Rioghan Murphy and Brian Whelan scored 2-8 between them as the O'Moore County finished top of the group. It means second-placed Westmeath will face neighbours Meath in the quarter-final.

Favoured by the wind in the first half, the winners couldn't have asked for a better start when Murphy had the ball in the net within 20 seconds of the throw-in. Aaron Farrell and Jack Duggan replied with points for Longford before the visitors reeled off an uanswered 1-5, with Murphy's second major helping them to a 12-point lead after 27 minutes.

But Longford rallied and a goal from full forward Duggan left them trailing by 1-5 to 2-9 at the break.

The hosts reduced the gap to just two points six minutes after the restart when Tiernan Hussey grabbed their second goal. Colin Dunne and Brian Whelan hit back with points for Laois and they held on for the win, depsite having Colin Dunne dismissed on a second yellow card in the closing stages.

Defeat for Longford means they will now enter the newly-created Shield competition.

Laois - M O'Connell; S Fitzpatrick, S Greene, N Little; S Fingleton, E Critchley, M Keogh; B Brennan, C Goode (0-1); O Hooney (0-1), B Whelan (0-7, 4f), PJ Ward; C Dunne (0-3), R Murphy (2-1), P Hosey (0-1). Subs: D Carolan for P Hosey, P O'Flynn for N Little, C Burke for M Keogh, J Kelly for O Hooney.

Longford - C Skelly, S McCormack, S O'Sullivan, C Gilligan; D Kurkin, C Leonard, D Kelly; C Scanlon, R Prior; A Farrell (0-2), K McGann (0-1), K Tansey; R Sheahan (0-1), J Duggan (1-7, 0-4f), S Ryan. Subs: D Moffett for S Ryan, T Hussey (1-1) for K Tansey, C O'Reilly for D Moffett (BC), J Macken for C Scanlon, D Coady for D Kelly, F Hourican for A Farrell.

Referee - D Stynes.

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