Round-up: Weekend's Allianz FL D3 action
Wexford captain Eoghan Nolan and Clare captain Mark McInerney pictured with referee Christopher Ryan before their Allianz Football League Division 3 clash in Ennis.
Allianz Football League Division Three
Wexford 1-23 Clare 2-17, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg
Down 2-25 Sligo 0-21, Markievicz Park
Westmeath 4-21 Limerick 3-8, TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar
Fermanagh 2-13 Laois 1-14, Brewster Park, Enniskillen
Down confirmed their promotion to Allianz FL Division 2 with a come from behind win over Sligo at Markievicz Park this afternoon.
Conor Laverty’s side trailed 0-19 to 0-18 going into the final 15 minutes but really poured it on with Ceilum Doherty’s goal putting them ahead.
They outscored Sligo down the final straight by 2-7 to 0-3. Pat Havern found the net for a second time and Daniel Guinness was to the fore once again, hitting four points from play in the final 10 minutes to drive his side over the line.
It’s far from clear who will go up alongside Down, with Westmeath putting themselves firmly in the picture following an impressive 16 point win over Limerick today.
Mark McHugh’s side are joint second alongside Wexford on eight points, four behind a Down side who are the only team in the country with full points after six rounds.
Westmeath are in Wexford next weekend in the final round, which is a straight shootout for promotion.
Wexford disposed of Clare today, surviving a storming Banner finish at Zimmer Biomet Cusack Park to win by three points.
Clare had a couple of late two point efforts to make it tighter and even win it, but couldn’t get them over.
When Wexford goalkeeper Darragh Brooks nailed a 56th minute two point free into the elements his side led by seven points, but that would prove to be the Model Men’s last score.
At Cusack Park, Westmeath finished in style with sub Robbie Forde hitting a quickfire 1-1 to put them in control midway through the second half.
The other goals came from Luke Loughlin, Matthew Whittaker - both inside the opening 10 minutes - and Ronan Wallace who finished with 1-4 in a fine personal display.
When James Naughton hit Limerick’s third goal, after 47 minutes, his side trailed by just three points, but from there to the end of the game they were outscored by 1-12 to 0-1 as the home side pushed on impressively.
On Saturday, Fermanagh gathered up their first points of the campaign, but they were made to sweat for it by 14-man Laois.
Laois had Robert Tyrell sent off in the closing stages of the first half, but they still came agonisingly close to grabbing a draw against Declan Bonner’s side, only to see a late two-point effort go wide.
The Enniskillen defeat all but ended Laois’ promotion hopes. They are, however, sitting on five points and should be safe from relegation.
Fermanagh’s goals came from Darragh McGurn and Luke Flanagan, while Laois’ major came after Evan O’Carroll’s shot hit the post and rebounded into the net off a home player.
