Offaly overcame the handicap of playing most of the second half with 13 players when getting the better of Longford at Pearse Park on Saturday with Brian Kelly scoring a late goal.

After Mark Mangan fired home the first goal in the 23rd minute Offaly suffered the setback of losing Liam Brennan and then Colin Egan was also sent off in the second half.

SCORERS- Offaly: M Mangan 1-2, B Kelly 1-1, N Dunne 0-3 (one free), D Currams 0-2. Longford: M Quinn 0-6 (four frees), P Gill 0-2, M Brady 0-2, D McGoldrick 0-1 (free), JJ Matthews 0-1.