A strong second half display earned Longford their first Leinster Football Championship win over Laois since 1968 at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
Visitors Laois looked comfortable with Gary Walsh leading the charge as they took a 0-09 to 0-03 interval lead. However, Longford lifted their game on the restart with Paul Barden netting a 40th minute goal.
Laois were held to just three second-half points as Sean McCormack, Brian Kavanagh and Michael Quinn came to the fore for the hosts as they won by 1-10 to 0-12.
Longford came into this game on the back of an impressive showing in Division 3 of the Allianz Football League, going on to take the title and promotion for next year. In contrast, Laois had a mixed run in Division 1 where they suffered relegation.
However, the O'Moore men opened in determined fashion this afternoon and powered into a 0-04 to 0-00 lead after 15 minutes - Colm Begley, Ross Munnelly, Darren Strong and Walsh on target.
Laois could afford three wides during this spell and the powerful pairing of John O'Loughlin and Brendan Quigley gave them command of the midfield sector.
Longford were handed few early scoring chances, but Paul Barden could have found the net in the ninth minute. He beat four Laois players for pace but the Clonguish clubman sent a blazing shot across the goalmouth and wide of the target.
Barden, the hosts' captain, did convert Longford's first point in the 16th minute after some good individual work. Yet, Laois kicked five of the next seven points with their half-back line popping up on the end of a series of attacks.
Strong registered some terrific points while his fellow wing back Conor Boyle was also on target.
Longford kept in touch thanks to the efforts of Brian Kavanagh and McCormack, but Laois kicked the final three points of the half to go in at half-time with a six-point advantage - 0-09 to 0-03.
Laois should have been further in front at that stage as they kicked eight first-half wides. Walsh missed a chance to claim their first score on the restart, while at the other end Begley put in a fine block on a David Barden shot.
However, the momentum soon swung in Longford's favour with David's brother Paul landing the lone goal of the contest five minutes in. He palmed the ball to the net following a pass from Sean McCormack.
Laois strung together the next two points with Ross Munnelly and Walsh the scorers, but Justin McNulty's side went on to score just one more point in the closing 24 minutes as Longford got on top all over the pitch.
Scores arrived from all angles with corner forward McCormack showing his accuracy in front of goal. Both of the Barden brothers and former AFL player Michael Quinn also chipped in with points during this purple patch.
Longford took the lead for the first time with nine minutes remaining after McCormack brought his tally to four points.
Laois' shooting let them down when the pressure came on and scoring opporunities for Walsh, Strong, O'Loughlin, Colm Kelly and Begley were all sent wide.
Longford could have claimed a second goal with six minutes left on the clock, but full-forward Kavanagh was denied by a fine block by Kieran Lillis.
Into injury-time, substitute Colm Kelly played a free in short and Laois managed to work the ball into the net - only for referee Martin Duffy to rule the effort out for a square ball.
And although Kelly registered a late point from a free to cut the margin to the minimum, Longford had done enough to deservedly hold on for a long-awaited SFC victory over Laois.
Scorers
Longford: P Barden 1-02, S McCormack 0-04 (0-02f), B Kavanagh 0-02, D Barden, M Quinn 0-01 each
Laois: G Walsh 0-04 (0-02f, 0-01 ‘65’), D Strong, R Munnelly (0-01f) 0-02 each, C Begley, K Meaney, C Boyle, C Kelly (0-01f) 0-01 each
Teams
Longford: D Sheridan; D Brady, B Gilleran, D Reilly; C Smith, M Quinn, S Mulligan; B McElvanney, J Keegan; D Barden, P Barden, N Mulligan; D McElligott, B Kavanagh, S McCormack.
Subs used: P McCormack for N Mulligan, P Kelly for Keegan (both half-time), F McGee for McElligott (50 mins), K Diffley for D Barden (66), N Farrell for McElvanney (72).
Laois: E Culliton; C Healy, K Lillis, P O'Leary; D Strong, S Julian, C Boyle; J O'Loughlin, B Quigley; K Meaney, B Sheehan, C Begley; R Munnelly, P Clancy, G Walsh.
Subs used: M Timmons for Julian (42 mins), C Kelly for Munnelly (63), D O'Connor for Walsh (66).
