Laois ... 1-14 Longford ... 1-11: Laois footballers kept their promotion hopes alive with a hard-earned victory over Longford at Portarlington yesterday.

Playing into a strong breeze in the first half, Longford were the complete masters in the opening quarter with Paul Barden scoring four unanswered points. Laois settled down and added three points without reply, but just as they were coming into the game, Paul Barden struck for a well-taken Longford goal.

However, Laois finished the half very strongly and, with Chris Conway in brilliant form, they narrowed the gap to three points with five minutes remaining.

Laois were then awarded a penalty which Conway drove to the net and the same player added two further points to leave Laois ahead 1-9 to 1-7 at the interval.

On the changeover, despite playing into the strong breeze, Laois were the complete masters, and it is the home side who keep firmly in the hunt for promotion.

LAOIS: F Byron; P McDonald, T Kelly, J Higgins; D Brennan, D Conroy, P Leonard; J Kealy, N Garvan 0-1; G Ramsbottom, D McEvoy 0-2, P Clancy; C Conway 1-10, G Kavanagh, B McDonald. Subs: M Lawlor for G Ramsbottom, K Fitzpatrick for P Clancy, D Ryan for P McDonald

LONGFORD: D Sheridan, S Carroll,D Ledwith, F Coyle, M Mulleady, C Keogh, B Burke, L Keenan 0-1, D Smyth, P Ross 0-1, R Clyne, D Blessington 0-1, T Smullen, N Sheridan, P Barden (1-8). Subs: P Davis for P Ross, M Kenny for B Burke

Referee: J Gough (Limerick).