Duggan provides winning strike

CONNACHT's current well-being was reflected at Kiltoom yesterday where Roscommon maintained their unbeaten run in Division Three with a dogged local-derby victory over Westmeath.

The joint leaders continued to display an enviable determination to dig themselves out of trouble. This single-point win followed on the heels of two similar scorelines against Longford and Wicklow, and thus completed an unlikely hat-trick.

A point from substitute Derek Duggan, four minutes from the final whistle, turned the game in Roscommon's favour and his team's ability to find a way through the mid-winter dogfights has so far proved the difference between maximum points and the relegation zone.

In contrast, Down steamrolled Wicklow at Newry. This did not look the likely outcome after 26 minutes of the first half. An intelligent Conan Daye sideline free was flicked to the net by Damian McMahon to put Wicklow into a 1-2 to 0-4 advantage.

Almost immediately, however, corner forward Mickey Linden blasted pasta goalkeeper Liam Cullen when set free by Jarlath Austin. While Down are not amused to be preparing for next year's championship in the lower echelons of the National League, they are taking the unglamorous pitfalls of Division Three seriously. For any of their opponents, victory over the Mourne men would mark real progress.

Consequently Wicklow came to do battle. Fergus Daly, Kevin O'Brien and Conan Daye showed why they are held in such admiration. Down noted this and planned accordingly.

Linden's goal reflected the pattern of the game. Every time Wicklow threatened to overtake Down, a stinging answer was provided by Linden, Ciaran McCabe, Gregory McCartan or Ross Carr. Wicklow had all the passion and commitment, Down all the answers.

After a dismal start to their campaign, Galway are showing signs of recuperation. They were in uncompromising mood in Ballinasloe. Poor Wexford have taken little inspiration from the Leinster club exploits of Kilanerin, and only Scott Doran and Leigh O'Brien dared to threaten Galway.

John Donnellan from Dunmore made a thunderous inter-county debut at full-forward. He sowed the seeds to the visitors' downfall with his accurate distribution, not to mention his top score of 2-3.

Longford did not enjoy the best of preparations for their All-Ireland B Championship final against Fermanagh next Sunday. They were out-fought by Antrim at Casement Park in a dour, bad tempered affair that produced five bookings.

Trailing 0-4 to 0-3 at the interval, Antrim went a further point behind before the game was transformed by a goal from full forward Ronan Hamill in the 34th minute.