Allianz Football League: Armagh, Fermanagh and Down clinch wins to remain unbeaten

Armagh and Down secured their second wins of the Football League campaign on Saturday, while Fermanagh remain unbeaten after defeating Kildare.

In Division Two, the Ernemen saw off Kildare 2-10 to 0-12 at Brewster Park.

Armagh ran out convincing 12-point victors, 2-16 to 0-10, over Meath at the Athletic Grounds.

In Division Three, Down recorded a comfortable 3-16 to 0-9 victory over Limerick in a one-sided contest at Pairc Esler.

• Saturday's Allianz Football League action as it unfolded

Armagh surge past Meath

Ciaran Mackin scored Armagh's second goal against Meath

Last week's 0-12 to 0-11 win over Louth was a bit close for comfort for Armagh, but after their first goal, the hosts were in the driving seat for the remainder of Saturday evening's game against Meath.

A surge of 1-3 without reply had Armagh ahead by six at the break.

Conor Turbitt carried most of the scoring load, with five points from frees, before the key score of the half came on 33 minutes.

Oisin Conaty drove through the heart of the Meath defence, before supplying a pass inside for Cian McConville, who almost took the roof off the net from close range.

The game was put beyond doubt when Ciaran Mackin rifled home his side's second goal early in the second half, and with Jarly Og Burns and Oisin O'Neill making their impact felt from the bench, Armagh saw out their lead comfortably.

Fermanagh clinch first win

Sean Cassidy's second half goal secured Fermanagh's win over Kildare

Sean Cassidy's second half goal secured a deserved four-point victory for Fermanagh over Kildare, following on from their 1-9 to 2-12 draw with Meath in Navan last weekend.

Lilywhites' goalkeeper Mark Donnellan dropped the ball into his own net in the first period to gift the Erne County a goal and the home side led 1-7 to 0-4 at the break.

Kildare threatened a comeback at times in the second half, eating into Fermanagh's lead, but the Ulster outfit always had their guests at arm's length.

Eight different players got their name on the scoresheet for Kieran Donnelly's team including four defenders with Che Cullen, Lee Cullen, Declan McCusker and Josh Largo-Ellis all on target.

On 61 minutes Fermanagh finally settled proceedings with a superbly worked goal.

Joe McDade received the ball inside and quickly slipped it to Cassidy who rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into the net.

In the dying seconds Kildare were awarded a penalty but Kevin O'Callaghan was denied from the spot by Ross Bogue.

Two defeats from two then for Kildare, who also went down by four points to Cavan in their opening league outing.

Down too strong for Limerick

Odhran Murdock fired home two penalties for Down

At Pairc Esler, a golden 20-minute, first half spell heralded 2-6 without reply for Down, Odhran Murdock firing two penalties into the top left-hand corner of the net either side of a Daniel Guinness strike.

Limerick raced into an early lead, hitting the first three scores of the game. Iain Corbett was on target either side of efforts from Peter Nash.

The Mourne reply was emphatic, Murdock sending a penalty into the top left-hand corner of the net.

Murdock and Peter Fegan tagged on points before Nash tapped over for the visitors, who would not score again for another 22 minutes.

In that spell, Down hit 2-6 without reply, Shealan Johnston landing before Daniel Guinness rifled into the net, Murdock dispatching a second penalty into the exact same top left corner of the net.

To compound matters, Limerick had half-back Cathal McSweeney black carded for his foul on Liam Kerr in the build-up.

It was the home side who went in at half-time with a wealthy 3-8 to 0-5 lead.

It took Down twelve minutes to register their first score of the second half with Liam Kerr firing over after Nash tried to ignite fire in his side with a point of his own.

Pat Havern kept the scoreboard ticking over for Conor Laverty's side in the second half with five points from placed balls across the second stanza.

By this juncture, Down's attention had probably turned to a trip to Belfast to take on Antrim in a fortnight's time.