Down beaten as Cavan and Fermanagh clinch wins

Conor Laverty's Down side suffered a third narrow defeat in four Division Two games to increase their relegation concerns

Down's relegation concerns in Division Two of the Allianz Football League increased as they were edged out 2-17 to 0-22 by Louth with Cavan boosting their hopes of avoiding the drop by earning a 1-22 to 0-21 comeback win over Westmeath at Mullingar.

In Division Three meanwhile, Fermanagh held on to beat Mickey Harte's previously unbeaten Offaly side 1-13 to 3-6.

The Mournemen started brightly at Drogheda, kicking four two-pointers in the opening 19 minutes to build up a six-point lead.

Louth responded though through the reliable Sam Mulroy and Tommy Durnin's point before the break left just two between the sides at half-time.

Inside 10 minutes the Wee County assumed control with a two-point free from Mulroy quickly followed by a Kieran McArdle goal to put Louth four points ahead.

Odhran Murdock and a couple of points from Conor McCrickard brought Conor Laverty's side back to within one of the hosts but another Mulroy free approaching stoppage time after a two-pointer from Ryan Burns, who netted in the first half, kept the home team's noses in front to the finish.

Down slip into the relegation places with three games remaining two of which are away from home.

Cavan used their numerical advantage to overcome a 12-point half-time deficit in Mullingar.

The Lake County struck five two-pointers in the opening 18 minutes and led 0-17 to 0-5 at the break.

However, Jack Geoghegan was issued a red card soon before the break with Jamie Gonoud black card which allowed Cavan to mount a significant comeback after the resumption.

Three frees from Oisin Brady, one of which was a two-pointer, and a goal from Gerard Smith reduced the deficit to a single point by the hour.

Despite a black card for the Breffni County's Killian Clarke, Raymond Galligan's team finished the stronger with Dara McVeety scoring a crucial late two-pointer.

At Ederney, Declan McCusker and Offaly's Cillian Bourke exchanging first-half goals as the home side led 1-10 to 1-1 at half-time despite having played against the breeze.

The Ernemen made hay in the first half with seven different point scorers.

Dylan Hyland (penalty) and Cormac Egan netted after the resumption to cut into Fermanagh's lead.

The home side managed three points in the second half and went 16 minutes without scoring but Garvan Jones' point in the final minute clinched a vital win for Kieran Donnelly's side who move up to fifth place in the Division Three table - but are only two points behind Offaly who remain in the promotion spots behind leaders, Kildare who have a maximum eight points.