Carlow surged past Longford by 12 points with a dominate first-half performance.
Longford came back in the second-half to put some respectability on the score-line as Carlow won out 2-20 to 14 points. Carlow had led 2-13 to two points at half-time.
Points from Cormac Lomax and Ross Dunphy had Carlow two points up after four minutes. Longford were up against it when Sean Murphy rattled the net two minutes later.
While Aaron Farrell responded with Longford’s first score of the game. Mikey Bamrick rattled in Carlow’s second goal on eight minutes.
Ross Dunphy and Matthew Carey exchanged points. Alas Carey’s 11th minute point was Longford’s last of the first-half.
Three Mikey Bambrick points and two from Conor Crowley (1f), plus one each from Paddy Donnell, John Murphy and Sean Murphy had Carlow 2-13 to two points ahead at half-time.
However, Longford did respond after the restart. Two Cathal McCabe points and one each from Dessie Reynolds and Matthew Carey saw Longford land four points in a row.
Bambrick brought his tally to 1-4 to keep Carlow 14-points ahead. Longford replied with two from Matthew Carey (1f) and one from Caolan Lynch. However Ross Dunphy stemmed the Longford comeback with a point.
Matthew Carey added four points including three frees and Caolan McGann a point as Longford brought their tally to 14 points.
However, the damage had already been done. Carlow added points through Niall Hickey (0-3 2p) and Dunphy to seal a 2-20 to 14 point victory.
