Antrim come unstuck by Down's frenzied finish

Unbeaten Down came from behind at the death to see off a gutsy Antrim side in their Division 3 clash at Páirc Esler in Newry.

In a frenzied finish, Pat Havern and Andrew Gilmore held their nerve in front of a noisy crowd to point the winning scores after substitute Conor Poland scrambled home in the 69th minute to level.

Truth be told, Andy McEntee's side deserved something from the game and looked to have done enough for their first points of the campaign with replacement Dominic McEnhill scoring three second-half points off the bench.

However, Down, although frustrated and disjointed, never relented and came good in the hectic finale.

Bar a big knock that saw right half back Dermot McAleese go off after six minutes, Antrim were enjoying the early exchanges and were much the sharper team in Newry to begin with.

Both Ruairí McCann’s found the range and a long distance effort from centre-back Joseph Finnegan had the Saffron’s deservedly two points ahead.

Conor Laverty selected four changes from last weekend's win, pivotally Laverty chose his fellow club man Niall Kane in goals.

The Kilcoo net-minder returned to the team for the first time this season to slot over a 45’, but Down were still chugging along.

Another change from last Saturday night saw Andrew Gilmore rewarded for a good showing off the bench in Tipperary and the St John’s clubman curled over a nice point and the sides were soon level.

After Down notched three scores in a row, McCann was left alone at the edge of the square, and the big full forward duly side stepped Kane to tap home.

It was no more than they deserved.

This Down era, so far, has been defined by a willingness to go for goals. Liam Kerr went for the jugular earlier in the half, but it was Gilmore that