Down 0-19 Longford 0-16:DOWN PRODUCED a strong finish at Páirc Esler, Newry on Saturday. Longford, despite being four points behind at half-time, took the lead with a PJ Martin point 10 minutes into the half. But Down regrouped and finished with three points for a deserved victory.

Down led 0-10 to 0-6 at half-time with Daniel Hughes and John Fegan scoring three points each, Ronan Murtagh two while Benny Coulter and Ronan Sexton were also on the mark. Francis Magee scored three for Longford.

Longford were denied goals by Down goalkeeper Brendan McVeigh while Declan Rooney cleared a Brian Kavanagh effort off the goal line. Down finished with points from John Clarke, Coulter and Paul McComiskey.

DOWN: B McVeigh; L Howard, G McArdle, M Cole; R Murtagh (0-2), L Doyle, P Turley; D Rooney, A Rodgers; J Fegan (0-3), R Sexton (0-1), D Hughes (0-4); J Clarke (0-2), B Coulter (0-5), P McComiskey (0-2). Subs: D Rafferty for L Howard, D Mccartan for G McArdle, K McKernan for P Turley, D Gordon for A Rodgers, S Kearney for J Fegan.

LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Brady, N Farrell, C Conefrey; D Barden, A O'Connor, P Kelly; L Keenan, S Mulligan (0-1); D Farrell, F Magee (0-5), P Berry; PJ Martin (0-4), P Dowd, B Kavanagh (0-4). Subs: S McCormack (0-1) for D Farrell, J Farrell (0-1) for P Dowd.

Referee: P McEneaney (Monaghan).