Down seal place in Division 2 as final beckons

It's Division 2 football for Down next year following a comprehensive 11-point victory over
Clare in Pairc Esler on Sunday that saw them top the Allianz Football League Division 3 table, with a trip to Croke Park for a final against Westmeath next Saturday the icing on the cake.

Today's fixture was do-or-die for both sides, with Clare needing a victory and Down just a point to secure promotion, but Conor Laverty’s men got the job done in style, leading from start to finish.

It wasn’t as easy as it looked tough, as the Mournemen didn’t really pull away until the second half, but two goals in quick succession killed the match off and it was plain sailing from there on in.

Down got off to a flying start with a goal and two points with seven minutes on the clock, before Clare got their side of the scoreboard moving.

That was also with a maximum in the tenth minute and although the home side led at the break, it was only by three points.

Pat Havern opened the scoring with a free and in the sixth minute, Kilcoo’s Ryan Johnston picked out his in-rushing clubmate Ceilum Doherty whose goal attempt was palmed away by Clare keeper Stephen Ryan.

But the rebound fell straight back to Doherty who made no mistake on the second time of asking.

The Banner County replied in kind however, when they went on the break three minutes later. Aaron Griffin cut inside beating his marker Peter Fegan and hit the net.

Down kept the pressure on with four of the next five points but when John McGovern, making his senior debut as a sub on 19 minutes, was black carded for an attempted trip on Dermot Coughlan eight minutes later Clare had a chance to finish the half strongly.

But the Mournemen kept them at bay and kept their noses in front with a 1-07 to 1-04