NFL DIVISION FOUR Longford 1-21 Carlow 1-12:AN ASSURED performance from Longford saw them clinch promotion at Pearse Park yesterday.

Paul Barden’s goal in the fourth minute put Glenn Ryan’s charges ahead after Carlow had taken an early two-point lead. In the second quarter Barden, Seán McCormack and Brian Kavanagh led the scoring charge and 10 points without reply gave Longford an whopping 11-point interval lead.

JJ Smith scored Carlow’s goal.

LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Brady, B Gilleran, D Reilly; S Mulligan, D Masterson, N Farrell; M Brady, J O'Shea (0-1); D Barden, P Dowd (0-2), P Barden (1-4); D McElligott, B Kavanagh (0-4), S McCormack (0-8, four frees). Subs: N Mulligan (0-2) for D Barden (39 mins), K Diffley for O'Shea (58 mins), P Foy for Farrell and JJ Matthews for Kavanagh (64), F McGee for Dowd (68).

CARLOW: T O'Reilly; B Kavanagh, T Bolger, P McElligott; K Nolan, A Murphy, P Cashin (0-1); D Foley (0-2), T Walsh (0-1); B Murphy, P Hickey, E Finnegan; D St. Ledger (0-5, four frees), C Mullins (0-1), JJ Smith (1-1). Subs: S Gannon for B Murphy (28 mins), S Redmond (0-1) for A Murphy (ht), H Gannon for Hickey (49), P Murphy for Cashin (55), E Ruth for Finnegan (60 mins).

Referee: D O'Mahoney(Tipperary).