Down end on an up

Down secured their place at the top level in an extraordinary match at Newcastle. With 27 minutes gone, the home side led 1-6 to 1-1 and seemed to have done enough to enable them to compete against the elements after the break. Their goal had been scored by Ciaran McCabe in the 16th minute, following a great through ball from Finbar Coffey, but Mayo had hit back four minutes later with an explosive drive from James Horan.

Mayo turned the game around in the final minutes of the first half with three more goals which put a different complexion on the game. The first was snatched up by David Nestor after 27 minutes; the second, a minute later, fell to the alert Horan, after Down had failed to clear a teasing cross from Maurice Sheridan; and just before half-time, Nestor sent John Casey racing through to leave the Westerners 4-1 to 1-7 in front.

The scoring rate subsided after the interval, but the thrills did not. Down played like men inspired on the resumption, and were excellent value for their equalising goal, a well-worked effort scored by Shane Mulholland in the 46th minute.

Substitute goalkeeper Micky McVeigh had come to Down's rescue with a couple of brilliant saves from McDonald and Horan.

Mayo retook the lead through a Sheridan free in the 51st minute, and David Nestor extended it with three minutes remaining.

But Down struck for the decisive score a minute from time. A Down attack was halted unfairly on the Mayo 20-metre line. Shane Mulholland tried for a goal, his shot was blocked and the rebound fell to down captain James McCartan, who lashed the ball low to the net through a crowded goal-mouth.

Down: C Rice; F Caulfield, C Byrne, P Matthews; C McLoughlin, M McGill, S Poland; C Deegan (0-1), Sean Ward; S Mulholland (1-1), A Farrell (0-1), Gerard Deegan; Shane Ward (0-1), C McCabe (1-2), J McCartan (1-1). Subs: M McVeigh for C Rice (30 mins); D Flynn for F Caulfield (30 mins); B Loughran for C McCabe (30 mins).

Mayo: P Burke; K Mortimer, K Cahill, P Holmes; F Costello, A Roche, A Higgins; P Fallon, J Nallen; C McManamin, M Sheridan (0-2), J Casey (1-0); C McDonald, J Horan (2-0), D Nestor (1-1). Sub: D Heaney for P Fallon (57 mins).

Referee: B Crowe (Cavan).