Battling Down win it late on

JEROME JOHNSTON converted a mark in the second minute of injury time to snatch victory for 14-man Down in last night’s Division 3 game in Páirc Esler.

It was the first time Westmeath had trailed since the opening score from Ryan Johnston but the visitors wasted a lot of opportunities in the second half, as well as having Ger Egan’s penalty saved by Rory Burns in the first half.

Down lost forward Pat Havern to a straight red card after 23 minutes but battled hard and scored the last two points from Donal O’Hare and Johnston’s superb mark for their second win from three League games.

Westmeath led 0-5 to 0-4 at half time after a low-scoring first half which had those two big talking points.

The sides were level four times in the second half, Donal O’Hare making it 0-9 each before Johnston’s late mark