Sligo 0-18 Longford 0-16: Sligo got their campaign back on track with a hard-earned win - their first championship victory since 2002, when they reached the quarter-finals - in this gripping qualifier at Markievicz Park on Saturday.

Mark Breheny, scorer of five points, gave Sligo the lead for the first time after 61 minutes and Dominic Corrigan's side were never headed thereafter.

The Leinster men had a chance to snatch a late winning goal after Brian Kavanagh cut the deficit to two points with a minute of stoppage time remaining but solid defending by the Sligo backs kept the Longford forwards at bay.

Longford set the pace in a first half decorated with some superb scores by Paul Barden, after which most of the 2,000-plus crowd would have expected Longford to progress. But Sligo's dash in the second half caught Luke Dempsey's men off guard.

The return of Dessie Sloyan and Dara McGarty was a boost for Sligo, though Sloyan was substituted late in the game.

Barden at midfield and full forward Brian Kavanagh excelled for the visitors.

"A timely boost after a poor league campaign and a disappointing start to the championship," said Sligo selector Neil Egan of the win.

SLIGO: P Greene; P Naughton, N McGuire, B Phillips (0-1); P Doohan, J Martyn, J Davey; S Davey (0-4), E O'Hara (0-4); B Egan, J McPartland, D McGarty (0-1); D Sloyan (0-1), M Breheny (0-5, 2 frees), D McTernan (0-1). Subs: K Sweeney for McPartland (43 mins), B Curran for Egan, G McGowan (0-1) for McTernan (both 51 mins), M Munds for Sloyan (71 mins).

LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Brady, D Corcoran, E Ledwith, A O'Connor; C Conefrey, D Reilly; P Barden (0-5, 2 frees), L Keenan, T Smullen (0-1); K Mulligan (0-1), P Dowd (0-1); J Martin (0-2, 1 free), B Kavanagh (0-5, 4 frees), P Davis (0-1). Subs: N Sheridan for Davis (47 mins), K Smith for Mulligan (55 mins), B McElvaney for Martin (58 mins), S Mulligan for Dowd (62 mins).

Referee: R O'Donnell (Donegal).