NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION THREE:Down1-13 Louth1-12

A BRILLIANT save by goalkeeper Brendan McVeigh from a late penalty by Louth’s Shane Lennon assured Down of full points at Páirc Esler, Newry on Saturday.

Louth, after a good start, trailed 0-9 to 0-5 at half-time but in the third quarter they struck for their goal from Pauric Smith and looked like taking both points.

However, Down introduced team captain Dan Gordon and Paul McCumiskey to good effect. Seven minutes from time McCumiskey set up Danny Hughes for a brilliant Down goal which proved to be the decisive score.

The sides were level four times in the first 25 minutes before Down scored four unanswered points to lead by four at half-time.

Louth restarted in brilliant fashion with Brian White pointing two frees and Shane Lennon one to reduce Down’s lead to a point.

DOWN:B McVeigh; C McGovern, P Murphy, L Howard; A Carr (0-3, frees), K McKernan, C Garvey; J Lynch, S Kearney (0-1); B McArdle (0-1), C Maginn, J Fegan (0-2); J O'Reilly, D Hughes (1-2), B Coulter (0-4). Subs: D Rafferty for K McKernan (47 mins, yellow), P McCumiskey for J O'Reilly (49 mins), D Gordon for J Lynch (50 mins), J Boyle for C Maginn (54 mins), C Magee for B McArdle (61 mins).

LOUTH: S Reynolds; J O'Brien, D Finnegan, C Goss; P Rath, M Fanning, G Hoey; R Carroll, B White (0-7. five frees); A Reid, S Lennon (0-2, one free), D Reid (0-1); J P Rooney, D Crilly, P Smith (1-1). Subs: R Finnegan for C Goss (32 mins, yellow), B McArdle for M Fanning (35 mins, yellow), A Hoey for P Smith (60 mins), D Maguire for D Reid (70 mins), T Costello for J O'Brien (72 mins, yellow).

Referee:T Quigley (Dublin).