NFL DIVISION TWO Down 2-15 Westmeath 0-8:DOWN HAD no difficulty in maintaining their unbeaten record when they recorded a facile 13-point win at Cusack Park, Mullingar, yesterday afternoon.

The visitors dominated right from the off, despite Westmeath having wind advantage in the first half. Indeed Down should have been much more than two points to the good by the time Ambrose Rodgers rounded off a fine move with a great goal from 15 metres, on the quarter-hour mark.

An outclassed home side were fortunate to trail by only eight points at the break, with James McCartan’s charges leading by 1-8 to 0-3. The Mourne men continued to dominate on the change of ends and an inevitable second goal arrived in the 48th minute, Mark Poland palming the ball to the net from point-blank range when teed up by Ronan Murtagh.

Down had the luxury of resting a number of players midway through the second half as they eased their way to a victory which guarantees them promotion to Division One next season.

Brendan Hackett’s men finished the game with 14 men, Doran Harte receiving a straight red card in added-time.

DOWN: D Alder; D McCartan, B McArdle, D Rafferty; K McKernan, J Colgan, C Garvey, A. Rodgers (1-3, 0-1 45), K King, D Hughes (0-1), M Poland (1-4, 0-3 from frees), S Kearney, R Murtagh (0-3), J Clarke (0-3), B Coulter. Subs: C Maginn (0-1)for Poland (48 mins), P Fitzpatrick for Kearney (52 mins), A Brannigan for Garvey (54 mins), A Carr for Coulter (56 mins), K Duffin for Rafferty (56 mins).

WESTMEATH: G Connaughton, K Gavin, D O'Donoghue, J Gaffey, M Dalton, M Ennis, G Glennon, G Flanagan (0-1), D Duffy, P Bannon, A Finnan, D Harte, P Greville (0-1, free), M Flanagan (0-3, two frees, one sideline), J Smyth (0-2). Subs: W Murtagh for Gavin (20 mins), S Bracken for Bannon (34 mins), G Hoey (0-1)for (Murtagh, 50 mins), W Coyne for Ennis (50 mins), F Wilson for Finnan (57 mins).

Referee: G Ó Conamha(Galway).