The race for promotion in Division 4 is heating up after Longford defeated their neighbours Leitrim at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
With two games left to play four teams are on six points; that now includes Longford and Leitrim after the former's six-point win.
Leitrim finished the game with 14 players after Jack Gilheany received a second yellow card in the 53rd minute.
Longford opened the scoring inside the opening minute with a point from Dessie Reynolds, while the visitors were dealt a blow in the seventh minute when Ryan O'Rourke received a black card.
Longford made use of their numerical advantage and scored 1-03.
Darren Gallagher (free), Joseph Hagan and Paddy Kiernan kicked over points while they got a goal in the 15th minute.
Keelin McGann found Cathal McCabe with a piercing ball and the latter finished to the net.
Gallagher fisted the ball over the bar in the 18th minute to extend the lead to eight points. Longford were moving nicely at this point, getting quick ball into their forwards.
Leitrim got their first score in the 19th minute when Pearce Dolan grabbed a point. That was cancelled out by a point from Daniel Reynolds before Leitrim hit a purple patch.
They kicked over five points in a row to cut the lead to just one point; two from Darragh Rooney (free and a mark), O’Rourke, Aidan Flynn and Barry McNulty.
Gallagher kicked over a much needed point from a free in the 33rd minute. Leitrim replied with a fine point from Mark Plunkett but just before the break Gallagher was accurate from a '45 to leave the home side ahead by four - 1-08 to 0-07.
The words of wisdom Leitrim manager Andy Moran issued at half-time had the desired effect and his side started the second half well. Points from Rooney and Plunkett cut the gap to just two in the 36th minute.
McCabe hit back for Longford before they were dealt a blow when Paddy Kiernan received a black card in the 40th minute.
The gap was two again when Conor Reynolds got up for a point. Gallagher was once again on target with a free before Longford goalkeeper Micheal Hughes did well to prevent substitute Riordan O’Rourke from grabbing a goal.
Rooney lobbed over a majestic point on 51 minutes but Leitrim were hit with a sickening blow when Gilheany was sent packing after his second yellow.
Thereafter, substitutes Mark Hughes and Ruairi Harkin kept the scoreboard ticking over for Longford.
Leitrim sub Paul Keaney answered with two late consolation points for his side but it was all in vain.
Longford: Michael Hughes; P Fox, O O’Toole, L Hughes; B Masterson, R Moffett, Dessie Reynolds (0-01); D Gallagher (0-06, 3f, 1’45), P Kiernan (0-01); K McGann, M Quinn, J Hagan (0-01); Daniel Reynolds (0-01), D Mimnagh, C McCabe (1-02).
Subs: Mark Hughes (0-03, 1f, 1m) for McGann (46), R Harkin (0-01) for L Hughes and Dylan Farrell for Kiernan (60), B Peters for Masterson (64), D Duggan for McCabe (70+3)
Leitrim: N O’Donnell; C Reynolds (0-01), D Casey, A Flynn (0-01); A Reynolds, M Diffley, J Foley; J Gilheany, D Wrynn; S Quinn, B McNulty (0-01), Ryan O’Rourke (0-01); P Dolan (0-01), D Rooney (0-04, 1m), M Plunkett (0-02).
Subs: C McHugh for Reynolds (18), Riordan O’Rourke for Wyrnn (42), T Prior for Quinn (51), P Keaney (0-2) for Plunkett (57), R Oberwan for Dolan (62)
Referee: Kevin Faloon (Armagh)
