On-song Tipperary inflicted a comprehensive 2-17 to 0-6 defeat on giant-killing Longford in the curtain-raiser at Thurles.

With the SH Qualifier between Tipp and Galway to follow, the home support were given plenty to cheer about as their big-ball exponents produced a dominant performance against the midlanders, who had famously won on the road against Derry last time out.

There was to be no repeat of those heroics today, however, as the hosts bounced back in style from their luckless one-point Munster SFC semi-final defeat in Cork to progress to the third round of the back-door series.

The progressive Premier County bossed the first half to take a commanding 1-8 to 0-3 advantage into the interval.

Michael Quinlivan got the hosts off to a flying start with a first-minute goal and the match was done and dusted when Peter Acheson added their second major nine minutes after the restart to make it 2-10 to 0-4.

The midlanders replied with a point from centre back Enda Williams but Brian Mulvihill and Conor Sweeney (2) were on target as Peter Creedon's charges continued to dominate, 2-13 to 0-5.

Brian Kavanagh tapped over a consolation point for Jack Sheedy's out-of-sorts team but Man of the Match Sweeney continued to punish the visitors at every available opportunity as the NFL Division Four title holders prevailed by 17 points in the end.

Longford's season is over, while Tipp will be involved in the third round of Qualifiers in a fortnight's time.

Tipperary - P Fitzgerald; G Mulhair, P Codd (0-1), C McDonald; C O'Riordan, R Kiely, J Coghlan; S O'Brien, G Hannigan; P Austin, P Acheson (1-2), B Fox; C Sweeney (0-8, 5f), M Quinlivan (1-0), B Grogan (0-4, 3f). Subs: B Mulvihill (0-1) for M Quinlivan, C Kennedy (0-1) for P Austin, S Flynn for B Grogan, I Fahey for P Acheson, A Campbell for G Mulhair.

Longford - D Sheridan; D Brady, B Gilleran, F Battrim; CP Smyth, E Williams (0-1), S Mulligan; K Diffley, B O'Farrell; M Quinn (0-1), F McGee, P Barden (0-1); S McCormack (0-1f), B Kavanagh (0-2f), A Rowan. Subs: S Doyle for S McCormack, N Mulligan for K Diffley, M Hughes for A Rowan, R McEntire for F McGee, P Brady for F Battrim, P Gill for E Williams.

Referee - P O'Sullivan. Tweet

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