Allianz FL D3 round-up
John Connellan
Allianz Football League Division 3 round-up
By Darragh Small
WESTMEATH 0-14 FERMANAGH 1-9
LONGFORD 2-12 SLIGO 0-18
Substitute John Connellan rounded off the scoring to help Westmeath to a stunning 0-14 to 1-9 comeback win over Fermanagh at Cusack Park in Mullingar, in Division 3 of the NFL.
The visitors had won all four of their matches in the league and looked on course for another big victory when they held a 0-7 to 0-2 half-time advantage.
Armagh’s win over Derry on Saturday piled the pressure on Fermanagh, but they were set for their fifth win before Cian McManus was sent-off, and aided by the wind and the superb John Heslin, Westmeath completed their revival.
Westmeath actually scored first, through Tommy McDaniel in the second minute but Heslin’s free was their only other score in the first-half.
Westmeath’s Mark McCallon received a black card after 13 minutes and four points from Seamus Quigley pushed Fermanagh into a five-point lead at the interval. But the game turned in the second-half.
Ger Egan scored straight away and that began the onslaught from the hosts. James Dolan brought them within one. But Eamonn Maguire scored a crucial goal for Fermanagh with 17 minutes remaining. However they would not score again.
Heslin tied the game up in the 72nd minute and further points from Luke Loughlin and Connellan secured a priceless victory for promotion chasing Westmeath.
**Longford **are also still in contention for promotion but they slipped to a late 2-12 to 0-18 draw away to Sligo at Markievicz Park.
Denis Connerton’s side had won three games before their trip to Sligo, and their only defeat was a narrow loss at Armagh, where they could have rescued a draw from that game.
Sligo’s sole victory was against a poor Wexford outfit in Round 2, and they needed a win here to ease their relegation worries. But Adrian Marren’s late free still offered welcome relief with a draw.
But Sligo were 0-9 to 0-5 clear at half-time after a strange first-half, where the hosts had trailed by four at one stage.
Robbie Smyth was prominent as Longford raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead early on but Sligo began their fightback via Pat Hughes. Cian Breheny gave them a commanding lead at half-time.
Kevin McDonnell gave Sligo an 0-11 to 0-5 lead early in the second-half but then Longford’s first goal arrived through Pauric McGill.
Darren Gallagher’s strike gave Longford a 2-7 to 0-12 lead in the 50th minute. But Sligo secured a precious draw at the death.