Round-up: Allianz FL D3 action
Down senior football team manager Conor Laverty. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Allianz Football League Division Three
Down 2-15 Westmeath 1-15
Laois 0-18 Sligo 1-8
Down survived a dramatic Westmeath comeback at Pairc Esler this evening to go top of Allianz Division Three and move into pole position for promotion.
Conor Laverty’s side were in total control at the Newry venue going into the final quarter, but former AFL man Ray Connellan sparked a Lake County revival with two points from play to get his side going again.
Mark McHugh’s men weren’t going down without a fight and after Luke Loughlin converted a two pointer from play, sub Jack Duncan blew the game wide open with a goal.
Westmeath piled on the pressure but Robbie Forde saw his late effort hit the crossbar, with Ceilum Doherty notching the insurance point for Down.
The Mourne men were eight points ahead at the break with Ryan Magill goaling late in the half.
John McGeough’s goal on 44 minutes put them a whopping 13 points clear, but they ended up clinging on to make it three wins out of three after defeating Clare and Limerick in Round 1 and 2.
This was Westmeath’s first defeat after wins over Clare and Limerick.
Laois enjoyed a comfortable seven point victory over Sligo at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.
They surged clear in the final quarter to grab their first win after an opening round draw against Limerick and a 0-23 to 0-9 hammering by Wexford.
This was just the response Justin McNulty would have been looking for, but for Sligo it was a major blow to their promotion hopes after a win over Fermanagh last time out and an opening round defeat by Westmeath.
Sligo led 0-3 to 0-0 early on but Riogan Murphy’s two pointer was followed by further orange flags from Brian Byrne and Evan O’Carroll as Laois took control, only for a 31st minute goal by Luke Cassidy to rock them back on their heels.
They didn’t let it effect them though and ran out convincing winners.
