DOWN WILL BE back in the big time of league football next year after they clinched promotion to Division 1 today.
The Mourne county got the job done with a 3-12 to 1-15 win at home to Laois in Newry to secure top spot. Laois were left breathing a sigh of relief as they avoided the drop due to the defeats that Westmeath and Kildare suffered elsewhere in Division 2.
First-half goals from Conor Laverty and Paul Devlin laid the foundations for Down’s win as they lead 2-7 to 0-8 at the interval. Arthur McConville bagged their goal after the break and while Ross Munnelly converted a late penalty to the net for Laois, it was Down who ultimately triumphed.
Caolan Mooney, Conall McGovern and Conor Maginn also made important contributions as they chipped in with 0-2 apiece for Down. Evan O’Carroll was Laois’s top scorer with 0-7 while Munnelly hit 1-4.
Division 3
In the third tier, Armagh and Fermanagh had already secured promotion which meant the focus was on the fight at the bottom of the table. Wexford took the spoils away to Tipperary but it wasn’t enough to keep them up.
Tipperary were in control with a 2-8 to 0-6 lead at the break thanks to goals from Peter Acheson and George Hannigan. But Wexford bounced back with Ciaran Lyng hitting the net and 2011 Tipperary All-Ireland minor winning manager David Power masterminded a 2-16 to 2-12 victory over his native county.
Louth are also relegated after losing 2-13 to 2-11 to Limerick in Drogheda. Peter Nash and Pa Ranahan notched Limerick’s goals while Ryan Burns and Conor Grimes found the net for Louth.
Sligo survived after they saw off Armagh comfortably by 1-19 to 1-8 in Markievicz Park. Adrian Marren struck 0-7 in the opening-half for Niall Carew’s team while David Kelly struck their goal in the second-half.
Clare are also safe after a 1-14 to 2-8 win in Ennis over Fermanagh. Sean Quigley struck a first-half goal for Fermanagh but Clare were 1-9 to 1-3 clear when ex-Dublin player Pat Burke netted in the 41st minute. Quigley scored his second goal late on for Pete McGrath’s team but the Banner held on.
Division 4
Finally in the basement division, it was Offaly who were left celebrating after their promotion decider against Antrim. Both teams entered the game knowing a win would see them secure Division 3 football next year but it was Offaly who got the job done on home soil by 1-13 to 1-7.
Offaly’s Nigel Dunne and Antrim’s CJ McGourty traded first-half goals with Offaly ahead 1-5 to 1-2 at the break. Bernard Allen and Willie Mulhall contributed key points as Offaly ran out six-point victors.
Longford, who were already promoted, signed off with a 1-18 to 1-12 success over Carlow. Dessie Reynolds bagged Longford’s goal while John Murphy scored Carlow’s goal.
Finally London saw off Wicklow by 2-8 to 0-12 thanks to goals from Dave McGreevy and Lorcan Mulvey.
Results
Division 2
Down 3-12 Laois 1-15
Division 3
Sligo 1-19 Armagh 1-8
Limerick 2-13 Louth 2-11
Clare 1-14 Fermanagh 2-8
Wexford 2-16 Tipperary 2-12
Division 4
Offaly 1-13 Antrim 1-7
Longford 1-18 Carlow 1-12
London 2-8 Wicklow 0-12
Originally published at 18.30
