Reigning champions Portlaoise withstood a strong third quarter performance by Moorefield before running out 2-11 to 0-14 winners over the Kildare champions at O'Moore Park.

A goal in either half from Barry Fitzgerald and Craig Rogers proved vital as Portlaoise advanced to meet Dublin side Kilmacud Crokes at the quarter-final stage.

The Laois outfit led by six points early in the second half but withstood a strong rally by the visitors, who scored five unanswered points between the 38th and 44th minutes.

Portlaoise dug deep as Brian McCormack and Rogers converted crucial points in the closing stages.

Moorefield's woes were compounded late on with the 57th minute dismissal of Darryl Flynn, on a second yellow card. He got his marching orders for a high challenge on former St Vincent's star Hugh Coghlan.

At Cusack Park in Mullingar, Dessie Dolan scored eight points as Garrycastle defeated Longford Slashers by 0-13 to 1-9.

Garrycastle led by 0-8 to 1-4 at half-time, with Colin Smith netting the game's lone goal. The Longford outfit bounced back in the second half, but found it hard to cope with the accuracy of Dolan.

Garrycastle held out late on, after Smith missed a free for Slashers in the fourth minute of injury-time. The victors from Westmeath will host Louth side Mattock Rangers in the quarter-final.

Meanwhile, Skryne will face Wexford side Castletown in the last eight, after the Meath outfit claimed a hard-earned 1-11 to 1-8 win over Rathnew at Pairc Tailteann.

Skyrne led by 1-4 to 0-2 at the interval thanks to Ian Davis' 23rd-minute penalty, but were forced to withstand a Rathnew onslaught on the restart.

The Wicklow champions edged ahead in the third quarter but Skyrne came back to level the tie at 1-8 apiece, before finishing out the game with late scores from Mark Battersby.