Louth 2-7 Sligo 0-12TWO QUICK-FIRE second-half goals and a Ronan Carroll injury-time winner ensured Division Three survival for Louth yesterday. After trailing for most of the game, they sent Sligo closer to the drop, but the Connacht champions weren't best-pleased by Con Reynolds's time-keeping at St Brigid's Park.

After signalling two minutes the referee added four and half, allowing 14-man Louth to register their third win of the campaign with virtually the last kick of the game.

With a gale-force wind at their backs Sligo set the early pace. With corner-forwards, SeáFlannery and David Kelly in top form, they turned around with a 0-6 to 0-2 interval lead.

That advantage seemed meagre in light of the strong breeze, but by the 48th minute Sligo had opened a six-point cushion. However, two Louth goals in the space of a minute turned the game on its head. Shane Lennon slotted home the first on 59 minutes after being sent clear by Aaron Hoey and Colm Judge added another less than 60 seconds later.

To their credit Sligo recovered well and were helped by the 63rd-minute dismissal of Louth midfielder Paddy Keenan for a second bookable offence. They looked set for a share of the spoils until Carroll struck deep in stoppage time.

LOUTH: S Reynolds; J Neary, D Finnegan, B McArdle; R Finnegan (0-1), M Fanning, J Carr; P Keenan, R Carroll (0-2); J Murray, A Hoey (0-1, free), M Stanfield; C Judge (1-0), S Lennon (1-0), D Crilly (0-2, frees). Subs: J O'Brien for Carr (3 mins ), A Page for McArdle (43 mins), C McGuinness for O'Brien (43 mins), A Reid for Stanfield (47 mins), D Clarke (0-1) for Crilly (61 mins).

SLIGO: P Greene; C Harrison, N McGuire, R Donovan; J Davey (0-3, two frees), M McNamara, P McGovern; E O'Hara, C Quinn (0-1); B Kivlehan, K Byrne, E McHugh; S Flannery (0-5, three frees), K Sweeney, D Kelly (0-3). Subs: G Gaughen for McHugh (half-time), S Gilmartin for O'Hara (65 mins), S Davey for Sweeney (70 mins), S Coen for McGovern (70 mins).

Referee: C Reynolds (Down)