Ronan Hynes and Conor Lynam (1-4) hit late points as Offaly recorded a hard-fought 1-11 to 0-12 victory over Longford at Pearse Park.

Beaten by Dublin in the first round, the Faithful County demonstrated great character away from home and withstood late pressure to move within an hour of a place in the last eight.

Top scorer Lynam's first-half haul of 1-2 had the visitors on terms at the break - 1-4 to 0-7 - despite having played into the teeth of a cutting breeze in what proved to be a very competitive and enjoyable losers group, round one encounter.

Three Joe Kelly points had the hosts ahead by 0-3 to 0-2 after ten minutes (with Shane O'Brien and Cian Johnson on target for Offaly) but Lynam's three-pointer at the midway stage of the opening period gave his side a massive boost, propelling them into a two-point lead, 1-4 to 0-5.

Longford struck three successive scores either side of the break but the winners surged back in front with points from Cian O'Neill, Johnson and Michael Mooney - 1-7 to 0-8.

Johnson's third of the night left a goal between the sides moving into the final quarter, 1-9 to 0-9, but Longford were back level again by the 50^th minute, with Kelly again their main inspiration.

However, Hynes restored Offaly's advantage and Lynam added the insurance score in the final minute.

Following successive defeats, last year's finalists - beaten by Westmeath in the first round - are out of this year's provincial championship, while the victors travel to Wicklow in the second round of the losers group next Wednesday night, with a quarter-final place up for grabs via the back door.

Offaly - B Rohan; D Norris, D Kavanagh, J Quinn; R Hynes (0-1), S Geoghegan, D Moloney; M Mooney (0-1), S Molloy; E Farrell, C O'Neill (0-1), A Delaney; C Johnson (0-3, 1f), S O'Brien (0-1), C Lynam (1-4, 0-3f). Subs: L Mangan Gavin for D Norris, S O'Brien for E Farrell, D Fleming for C Johnson.

Longford - D McKenna; N Farrelly, C McKeon, C Lee; N Devlin, M Cahill, R Harkin (0-1); E Farrell, P Lynn; R Hawkins, J Kelly (0-7, 3f), C Reilly (0-1); R O'Connell, T McGann, R Healy (0-3). Subs: S Farrell for C Reilly, M Burke for N Devlin, S Thompson for R Hawkins, P Molloy for E Farrell.

Referee - D Hickey.

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