Defeat for Down but win for Antrim in league openers
Down led by five points at half-time but Roscommon fought back to earn a home win in the Division Two Football League opener
- Published
Down marked their return to Allianz League Division Two with a 1-20 to 3-21 away defeat against Roscommon.
The promoted Tailteann Cup winners had led by five at half-time at Dr Hyde Park despite conceding a pair of first-half goals to Enda Smith and Diarmuid Murtagh.
Smith also saw a penalty saved by Down's John O'Hare in an eventful first 35 minutes as Conor Laverty's side took early advantage of the new rules.
The Mournemen regularly took aim from beyond the arc to raise six orange flags in the first half alone.
Pat Havern led the way in that regard with a quartet of two-pointers in the opening period as part of his personal tally of 11 points.
While Ryan McEvoy palmed home for Down's only goal of the game, the Rossies stormed back in the second-half.
Gareth McKibben and Pat Havern further extended the visitors' lead but a two-pointer from Shane Cunnane marked the start of the turning of the tide.
After Smith hit the bar, points from Ben O'Carroll and Eddie Nolan brought Davy Burke's side back within three.
Despite a black card Ben O'Carroll, Ciarain Murtagh scored Roscommon's third goal of the day with 12 minutes remaining as he found the empty net with O'Hare caught upfield in a Down attack.
While a Havern point got his side back within four, Down would get no closer as Roscommon extended their advantage in the closing minutes.
Antrim hold on at wet and windy Corrigan Park
In Division Three, Antrim began their campaign with a 1-9 to 1-6 victory over Clare at Corrigan Park.
Andy McEntee's side were quickly in a commanding position, with Conor Hand grabbing the first two scores of the game, the latter of them a first ever two-pointer for the Saffrons.
Fionn Nagle raised a green flag soon after, although Clare's Ciaran Downes responded in kind to get his side on the board.
As conditions worsened, the hosts kept the scoreboard ticking over to lead 1-7 to 1-1 at the interval. They would only score two points after the restart, however.
Clare scored the first three points of the second half to halve their deficit before Paddy McBride and Conor Stewart nudged Antrim's lead back out to five.
Points from Brian McNamara and Cormac Murray set up a nervy finish for the Saffrons but Clare could not find the goal to force a draw.