Longford ... 1-12 Monaghan ... 0-11: Longford stretched their winning run to three games when they overcame Monaghan by four points at Pearse Park yesterday.

After a lively start Longford were 0-3 to 0-2 ahead when Niall Sheridan fielded superbly from a Ciaran Keogh pass, turned his man and crashed the ball to the the net from 10 yards.

Sheridan was well supported by his two corner forwards, Trevor Smullen and David Barden, who each scored two points in the opening half.

Their first-half scoring was completed by two Enda Barden frees that left them leading 1-7 to 0-7 at the break.

The same player got Longford's first score of the second half in the sixth minute with a free and a point from Smullen stretched their lead to five points 15 minutes later. Monaghan replied with three points from Damien Freeman, but Longford responed with two points from play before Freeman, who finished with a fine six-point tally, had the final say.

LONGFORD: D Sheridan, S Carroll, D Ledwith, F Coyle, M Mulleady, C Keogh, B Burke, L Keenan, E Barden (0-3, all frees), P Ross, R Clyne (0-1), D Blessington (0-1), T Smullen (0-3), N Sheridan (1-1, 1 free), D Barden (0-2). Subs: P Davis (0-1) for D Barden (56 mins); M Kenny for Ross (65); D Smyth for E Barden (66); D Brady for Coyle (69).

MONAGHAN: G Murphy, C Flanagan, D McDermott (0-1), P McKenna, G McQuaid, A Rooney, R Ronaghan, J Hughes, J McElroy (0-2), E Lennon, T Freeman (0-1), JP Mone, K Tavey, R Woods (0-1), D Freeman (0-6, 4 frees). Subs: P McGuigan for McQuaid (17); D McArdle for Ronaghan (half-time); G Meehan for Lennon (half-time); S McGeough for McArdle (42); P Duffy for Tavey (50).

Referee: D Joyce (Galway)