Bernard Allen’s last-minute free grabbed Offaly a draw in Longford, while Caolan Mooney netted an injury-time Down winner away to Sligo.

At Pearse Park, the hosts dominated the first half but led by just three points at the break, 1-3 to 0-3, Darren Gallagher netting in the 13th minute.

Offaly were level by the 39th minute thanks to Allen (2) and Shane Tierney but Longford had a two-point advantage with 65 minutes played only for Eoin Carroll and Allen – after goalkeeper Paddy Collum was penalised for overcarrying – to snatch the draw.

If Longford were sickened, it was even worse for Sligo, who led Down going into injury time only for former AFL star Caolan Mooney to hit the winning goal in the 73rd minute – 1-12 to 1-10.

The hosts led by 1-5 to 0-6 at the break at Connolly Park, Pat Hughes firing the goal. Points from Niall Murphy (free) and Sean Carrabine just before the 70th minute seemed to have won the day for the Yeats men at the end of a hard-fought second half but Paddy Tally’s men came out on top in dramatic circumstances.

Longford - P Collum; D Quinn, A Farrell, B O'Farrell; C P Smyth, B McKeon, D Mimnagh; D Gallagher (1-3, 0-2f), M Quinn (0-1); S Donohoe, N Rabbitte (0-1), M Hughes (0-1); R Smyth, L Connerton, P Lynn. Subs: J Hagan for R Smyth, C Berry for M Hughes, I O'Sullivan for P Lynn.

Offaly - P Duncan; D Hogan, E Rigney, D Dempsey; J O'Connor, P Cunningham, C Donohoe; C Mangan, S Horan; N Bracken, A Sullivan (0-2), N Darby; B Allen (0-5, 3f), J Moloney, R McNamee. Subs: S Tierney (0-1) for R McNamee, E Carroll (0-1) for N Bracken, N Dunne for J Moloney, C Carroll for P Cunningham.

Referee - E O'Grady.

**

Down - R Burns; D O'Hagan, S Murnin, G Collins; S Fegan, C Flanagan, C Mooney (1-2); L Devlin, J Flynn; C Francis, C Poland, K McKernan; J Johnston (0-1f), P Havern (0-1), P Devlin (0-2f). Subs: R Johnston (0-2) for S Murnin, D O'Hare (0-4, 2f) for J Johnston, D McCarthy for L Devlin, C Harrison for P Havern, B O'Hagan for P Devlin.

Sligo - A Devaney (0-1f); N Mullen, P Laffey, J Carr; L Nicholson, P McNamara, G O'Kelly Lynch; P Kilcoyne, A McIntyre; L Gaughan (0-2), P O'Connor, S Carrabine (0-2, 1f); A Marren, P Hughes (1-2, 0-2f), N Murphy (0-3, 2f). Subs: C Henry for L Nicholson, A McLoughlin for P Kilcoyne, B McGowan for P O'Connor.

Referee - P Hughes.

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