Longford 0-14 Louth 2-21:TWO GOALS from full-forward Shane Lennon helped pave the way for a very easy Louth victory over Longford in a relegation battle at Pearse Park.

Louth trailed 0-6 to 0-4 with 21 minutes gone but the visitors clicked into top gear to score 1-5 without reply, the points coming from Derek Crilly (free), Colm Judge (two), Keenan and Lennon while the latter added a goal from a penalty to leave Longford trailing 1-9 to 0-6 at the break.

Lennon put the final touch to a sweeping Louth move soon after the break, the impressive Louth forward ending with a tally of 2-3 for the runaway winners who fired over a succession of points.

Longford added another 0-8, five of the scores coming from the talented Brian Kavanagh.

LONGFORD: D Sheridan; P McDonnell, D Masterson, C Conefrey; D Brady, A O'Connor, D Reilly; L Keenan, K Mulligan (0-2); D Farrell (0-1), P Dowd, P Berry; F McGee (0-4, two frees), P Barden (0-1), B Kavanagh (0-6, two frees). Subs: E Williams for Conefrey (ht); P Foy for Farrell (50 mins); C Casey for Berry (63 mins); T Gallagher for Dowd (64 mins).

LOUTH: S Reynolds; J Neary, D Finnegan, B McArdle (0-1); R Finnegan, M Fanning, J Carr; P Keenan (0-2), R Carroll (0-2); J Murray, D Crilly (0-4, two frees), M Stanfield (0-3); C Judge (0-2), S Lennon (2-3, pen), A Hoey (0-2, one free). Subs: A Reid (0-2) for Murray (52 mins); J O'Brien for Carr (65 mins); D Clarke for Judge (68 mins); P Matthews for Lennon (68 mins); E Carroll for Stanfield (69 mins).

Referee: V Neary (Mayo).