Luke Dempsey's charges led at the interval by four points after his side got off to the perfect start with six scores on the trot. Brian Kavanagh was their chief marksman. Carlow started the second half well with a point from Brian Farrell.

However, it was all one way traffic after that with Longford adding a further 1-5. The goal came from a Brian Kavanagh penalty.

LONGFOR D O'Connor, K Moran, B Gilleran, N Farrell, S Mulligan, D Masterson (0-1), E Williams, B McElvaney, E Farrell (0-1), P Foy (01), P Dowd (0-2), P Berry, S McCormack (0-1), B Kavanagh (2-3, 2f), F McGee (0-3, 2f). Subs E Gallagher (0-1) for Williams, 47 mins; D Casserly for McElvaney, K Donohue for Mulligan, both 52 mins; J Kenny for N Farrell, C Flynn for P Dowd, both 55 mins.

CARLOW J Doyle, M Tuite, P Doran, E Nolan, K, Nolan, D McElligott, B Leonard, J Murphy, E Doyle, A Curran, B Murphy (1-1), D Hayden, P Broderick (0-1), P Nolan ((0-1), D Molloy. Subs G Doyle for Tuite, 41 mins; F Murphy for Doyle, A Kelly for Curran, both 47 mins; J Amond for Hayden, 48 mins; S O'Neill for D Molloy, 57 mins.

Referee P Finnegan (Louth).