Longford 1-9 Monaghan 0-10 Longford kept their chances of promotion alive with victory in Clones yesterday. A purple patch in the early minutes of the second half which saw them hit a goal and two points without reply laid the foundations for victory.

Liam Keenan got the all-important goal in the fifth minute when he was put clear by Paul Barden, a major influence on the game.

Monaghan led by two points after six minutes with scores from Jason Hughes and Tom Freeman. Paraic Davis and James Martin brought Longford level by the 13th minute with Monaghan then going two ahead again through Nicholas Corrigan and Eoin Lennon.

That was as good as it got for Monaghan as Longford registered four points without reply to lead 0-6 to 0-5 at the break.Corrigan equalised for Monaghan after the restart but Longford's purple patch between the fifth and eighth minutes yielded 1-2 which opened a five-point gap.

LONGFORD: G Tonra; D Brady, P Conefry, D Ledwith; M Mulleady, E Ledwith, A O'Connor; L Keenan (1-1), JO Callaghan; M Kenny, P Barden (0-1), D Barden; J Martin (0-2), N Sheridan (0-1), P Davis (0-4). Subs: F Coyle for JO Callaghan, T Smullen for M Kenny, P Shanley for N Sheridan, M Lennon for D Barden.

MONAGHAN: G Murphy; D McDermott, D McKenna, P McKenna; D Duffy (0-1), J Coyle, JP Mone; E Lennon (0-2), J Hughes (0-1); D Freeman, T Freeman (0-2), N Corrigan (0-2), R Woods, R Ronaghan, P Finlay. Subs: V Corey (0-1) for R Woods, D Clerkin (0-1) for P Finlay, D Smyth for D Freeman, M Slowey for R Ronaghan.

Referee: B Gorman (Armagh).