Longford book place in last four

20 minutes of extra-time needed to separate teams

Longford 1-13 Laois 1-12
It took 20 minutes of extra-time to separate last year's beaten finalists and Laois at rain swept O'Moore Park.

In a thrilling encounter Laois held a two-point lead at half- time after Martin Scully scored after 10 minutes but Longford hit back and a well taken goal by Liam Connerton followed by a point from Andrew Dalton saw the half-time scoreboard read 1-5 to 1-3.

Laois despite playing into the breeze dominated the third quarter and led by five points after 35 minutes but the visitors replied with four in a row by their excellent full forward Robbie Smyth and they went in front with 12 minutes left to play.

Laois then came back to force extra-time with points by Nigel Murphy and Evin Costelloe. Longford went two up before Alan Farrell reduced the deficit before half-time in extra time.

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Longford just did enough in the final 10 minutes when Smyth landed his sixth point and although Laois replied with a good point from Jason Campion it is Longford who go on to face Dublin in the semi-final.
LONGFORD: G Higgins; C Farrelly, A Farrell, A McBrien; S Clarke, S McLoughlin, C Shields; B McKeon (0-2), J McGivney (0-1); E Noonan, R O'Connor (0-1), P Kiernan (0-1); A Dalton (0-1), R Smyth (0-6), L Connerton (1-1). Subs: B O'Farrell for A McBrien (inj 35m); D Mimnagh for R Connor (55m), R McNerney for E Noonan.
LAOIS: G Brody; E Feane, C Lennon, D Dunne; D Ramsbottom, M O'Halloran, D Fitzpatrick; J Campion (0-1), P McEvoy; E George, E Costelloe (0-7), M Scully (1-0); P Kingston (0-1), M Keogh, E O'Carroll (0-1). Subs: N Murphy (0-1) for M Scully, A Farrell (0-1) for E George W Young for J Campion A Campion for D Dunne black card h/t.
Referee : John Hickey (Carlow)