Monaghan 1-14 Longford 3-6:Monaghan made it two wins from two when they held out in the final minutes against Longford in Clones on Saturday.

Monaghan led 0-3 to 0-0 after five minutes and while Longford reduced the deficit to a point after eight minutes, Monaghan increased the tempo and in a purple patch hit a goal and four points without reply between the 10th and 21st minutes, Damien Freeman landing the goal in the 15th minute.

Monaghan went on to lead at half-time by 1-10 to 1-4, Pádraig Berry getting the Longford goal in the 24th minute.

Monaghan looked to be coasting to victory when they led by nine points after 21 minutes. Longford sprang to life to throw the game wide open with two goals inside five minutes, Paul Barden from a penalty in the 26th minute and then four minutes later Bernard McElvaney got a fist to centre from a 45 by Brian Kavanagh. Longford had two late frees that could have seen them take a share of the spoils but they squandered both and Monaghan survived.

MONAGHAN: S Duffy; D Morgan, J Coyle, D McArdle; D Mone, V Corey (0-1), JP Mone (0-1); E Lennon, P Finlay (0-4); C Hanratty (0-1), S Gollogly, D Freeman (1-2); T Freeman (0-4), S Smith (0-1), C McManus. Subs: D Hughes for JP Mone, R Woods for T Freeman.

LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Brady, D Masterson, C Conefrey; DC Reilly, E Ledwith, S Mulligan (0-1); B McElvaney (1-1), L Keenan; P O'Hara, P Barden (1-1), T Smullen; D Barden (0-1), B Kavanagh (0-2), P Berry (1-0). Subs: D Hanify for E Ledwith, F Magee for P O'Hara, N Farrell for D Brady, K Smith for F Magee, P David for D Barden.

Referee: M Daly (Mayo).