THROUGH torrential rain Down midfielder Gregory McCartan summoned up just, about enough energy and accuracy to score a superb, last minute point that snatched victory against Westmeath at Cusack Park in Mullingar yesterday.
It was cruel luck for the Leinster team who might have thought they had earned a share of the points when Neil Dolan equalised with four minutes to go. But man of the match McCartan, who scored seven of, his team's 11 points, left them with nothing to show for their efforts.
There was an even later winner at Pearse Park in Longford yesterday when Dessie Barry gave the home team victory over Galway with a point from a free a minute into injury time.
The visitors had twice built up four point leads, after goals in each half from Conor McGaughran and Declan Meehan, but were unable to kill off Eamon Coleman's team. Barry's 10 point haul, including a second half penalty, completed the Longford comeback, giving them a 1-12 to 2-8 victory.
At Enniscorthy, Antrim could afford the luxury of a missed penally on their way to a five point win over Wexford. Brendan Elliott was the culprit when his kick hit the post, but by then Ronan Hammill's goal, four minutes before half time, and points from free takers Ciaran O Neill and Paul Derby had all but sealed Antrim's first win of the season and left Wexford still seeking their first points.
Roscommon had their second victory in a row over a newly promoted county when they beat Wicklow by a point at Aughrim. Having already beaten Longford, yesterday's wind put's Roscommon joint top of division three with Down.
Eight points from an in form Rory Gallagher sent Fermanagh on their way to victory over Sligo at Enniskillen yesterday. Both teams were relegated to division four last season, but the quality of their football, in a match where 11 of the 12 forwards scored, suggests they are capable of making a swift return to division three.
Sligo were a point ahead at half time, 0-8 to 0-7, but a Raymond Gallagher goal three minutes in to the second half gave Fermanagh a lead they never relinquished and secured their second win in two games,
Carlow looked on course for their second defeat to London in two seasons at Dr Cullen Park yesterday - but finally exacted some revenge for the reverse that effectively ruined their promotion hopes in the last campaign.
London, whose cause was not helped by the 18th minute dismissal of Aidan Creamer for a tackle on Joe Murphy, led by a point with just 10 minutes to go.
Carlow rallied, winning 0-12 to 0-9, to make it two wins out of two.
At Tullamore, Offaly and Waterford also maintained their 109 per cent records. Offaly's 16 point victory was their second win of the campaign, while Waterford are still trying to break their division four duck. Goals' from Roy Malone and substitute Vincent Claffey sent the home team on their way to a comfortable victory.
The bookmakers might have been decked out in amber and black yesterday as 1 to 8 favourites Tipperary took on Kilkenny at Nowlan Park. But there were no surprises as the new Tipperary manager Paddy Morrissey saw his team cruise to a 14 point victory.
