It turned out to be a fierce struggle for Laois against already relegated Longford in the clash at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park and it was only in the closing minutes that the visitors got the vital scores to secure the win that keeps them still in with an outside chance of promotion.

Thanks to scores from Sean McCormack (two frees), Francis McGee and Donal McElligott, Longford led by 0-4 to 0-1 at the break with the solitary Laois point coming from MJ Tierney in the 13th minute.

But their manager Justin McNulty made the necessary changes that worked well in swinging the issue in favour of the visitors.

Four points in a row through Donie Kingston, Gary Walsh (free), Kevin Meaney and Ross Munnelly put Laois in front with 15 minutes gone in the second half.

Influential substitute Meaney landed a terrific score to give Laois a badly needed lift but Longford battled back to regain the lead (0-6 to 0-5) with cracking points from Sean McCormack and Donal McElligott after 55 minutes.

But that was as good as it got for Longford who failed to register another score during the remainder of the game. The home side were left to rue a string of missed chances, particularly in the first half.

Laois were also guilty of some poor finishing but they kept their composure when it mattered most and drew level in the 59th minute when Ross Munnelly landed a long-range free. It was still all square and time running out before Kevin Meaney pointed from a tight angle in the 67th minute to give Laois the lead and they finished the stronger with two late of scores from impact substitute Colm Kelly.