DCU 2-11 Longford 0-12:ULTIMATELY THIS lively O'Byrne Cup quarter-final in Ballymahon was decided by two clinical second-half DCU goals.

Longford contributed to a smashing contest, but Jack Brady and substitute Donal Smith rattled the midlanders’ net when the issue was delicately poised.

Level at 0-8 at half-time, DCU scored a 38th-minute goal courtesy of Brady, but Longford kicked four points in a row from Paul Kelly and three from the outstanding Seán McCormack.

DCU, though, goaled again in the 55th minute when Smith flicked home the decisive goal, with points from Gary Sweeney and two Brady frees sealing the deal.

Having already defeated Wicklow in the competition DCU manager Niall Moyna was delighted to take another inter-county scalp ahead of a fascinating Sigerson Cup first-round tussle with Cork IT. “We are very happy because it is always great to beat an intercounty team. Obviously we are at a totally different stage of our preparation compared to where they are so we have a little bit of an advantage from that perspective,” he said.

DCU:M Boyle; L Bree, P McMahon, E Culligan; C Begley, K Gavin, J Cooper; F O'Curraoin (0-1), M McElhinney; G Sweeney (0-2), D Rock (0-3, 0-1 free), F O'Shea (0-1); J Brady (1-3, 0-2 frees), J McEneaney, D Kelly (0-1). Subs: D Smith (1-0) for McEneaney (21 mins), P Flynn for O'Shea (36 mins), C Diamond for Rock (45 mins), P Dooney for Smith (59 mins), D Keenan for McElhinney (66 mins).

LONGFORD:J McKenna; P Foy, F Battrim, D Reilly; C Smyth, S Mulligan, P Brady (0-1); B McElvaney, J Keegan; D Barden, M Quinn, P Kelly (0-1); F McGee, S McCormack (0-8, 0-4 frees), B Kavanagh (0-2). Subs: JJ Matthews for McGee (25 mins), E Williams for Brady (43 mins), K Diffley for Keegan, J McGivney for Kelly (both 55 mins), D McElligott for McElvaney (62 mins).

Referee:D Maher (Westmeath).