Longford Slashers 3-13
Rathnew 0-10

Longford Slashers safely negotiated the challenge of Rathnew in the first round of the Leinster Club SFC yesterday.

First half goals from Trevor Clendenning, Mark Smith and Colin Smith paved the way for a comfortable 12-point victory.

At half-time, Denis Connerton's men held a commanding 3-6 to 0-5 advantage.

It was a first victory in the provincial competition for the Slashers since 1989 but they are sure to face a much stiffer challenge when they square up to Portlaoise in the last eight.

Longford Slashers - C Farrell; D Glennon, B Gilleran, G Ghee; P Brady (0-1), D Brady, M Diffley (0-2); M Brady, D Sheridan; M Nevin, N Mulligan (0-2), C Smith (1-3, 3f); M Smith (1-3, 2f), T Clendenning (1-1), P Foy. Subs: P Dobson (0-1) for Foy, A Dalton for Nevin, S Flynn for Diffley, M Tarmey for M Smith, D Flaherty for Glennon.

Rathnew - P Dignam; J Snell, D Power, J Manley; S Murphy, A Merriman, E Glynn; S Kavanagh (0-1), T Smith; L Glynn (0-1f), N Mernagh, E Doyle (0-1f); T Gill (0-6, 5f), J Stafford, M Doyle. Subs: R O'Brien for M Doyle, P Merrigan for E Glynn, C Healy for Kavanagh, J Hollingsworth (0-1) for E Doyle, A Clarke for Mernagh.

Referee - F Barry. Tweet

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