An excellent second-half performance when playing against a strong wind saw Waterford record a fully deserved win over Longford at Dungarvan. Waterford kicked 11 first-half wides but still led by 0-9 to 0-2 at the break. The home side was slow to settle and only recorded three points in the opening 15 minutes when backed by the gale while Longford had to wait 19 minutes for their opening score - a Paul Bardon point.

The Midlanders got off to a great start in the opening eight minutes of the second-half scoring three points without reply to cut the deficit to four. Waterford recovered and with five minutes remaining held a seven points advantage However, in a dramatic last few minutes Paul Bardon, from a penalty, and Sean Hagan from a goalmouth melee found the Waterford net to cut the deficit to the minimum. Waterford had an insurance point, however, from freetaker Emmet Doherty on the stroke of time to record a hard earned win.

WATERFORD: P Holohan; K Coffey, M Fitzgerald, D Lyons; M Kiely, L Hurney, M AHern; W Kavanagh, A Ahern; G Hurney (0-2), C O'Keeffe (0- 4), S Cunningham; E Doherty (0-4), J O Kiely (0-3), S Barron (0-1). Subs: R Hennessey for Barron, K WHelan for M Ahern, L Dalton for O'Keeffe, C Keane for G Hurney.

LONGFORD: G Tonra; M Mulleady, D Ledwith P Jones; P Ross, J Kenny, C Conefrey; E Barden (0-2), A Keogh; P Brady, S Hagan (1-0), P Barden (1-2); J Martin, A Neilan, P Davis (0-2). Subs: K Drake for Brady, J Dowd for Martin, R Forbes for Drake.

Referee: J Rutherford (Dublin).