Westmeath’s stunning come-from-behind victory over Offaly at Tullamore was the headline story from Division Three this afternoon.

Trailing by eight points as many minutes into the second half, 0-11 to 0-3, the Lake County planted ten of the last eleven scores to pip their neighbours by 0-13 to 0-12, with Kieran Martin striking the winner deep into added time.

Substitute Luke Loughlin initiated the comeback in the 46th minute before Ronan O’Toole (2), Ger Egan (4), Tommy McDaniel and Loughlin made it nine without reply as the visitors led with 68 minutes played.

Bernard Allen equalised on the stroke of full time but Martin won it for Jack Cooney’s never-say-die troops.

In Drogheda, late points from substitutes Joseph Hagan, Darragh Doherty and Nigel Rabbitte propelled Longford to a 1-8 to 0-9 victory over 13-man Louth, with Robbie Smyth registering 1-3 for the midlanders, who were without their Mullinalaghta contingent.

The Wee County had midfielders Conor Early (two black cards) and Tommy Durnin (two yellows) sent off inside the first 20 minutes and their none-too-pleased manager Wayne Kierans was also dismissed before the break.

Meanwhile, Paul Broderick struck a fortuitous goal as Carlow got their campaign up and running with a straightforward 1-11 to 0-7 defeat of Sligo at Dr Cullen Park.

Westmeath - E Carberry; K Daly, R Wallace, B Sayeh; J Dolan, N Mulligan, D Lynch; S Flanagan, S Duncan; G Egan (0-5, 3f), P Fagan, R O'Toole (0-3, 1f); N O'Reilly, K Martin (0-2, 1f), C McCormack. Subs: T McDaniel (0-1) for P Fagan, D Corroon for S Flanagan, L Loughlin (0-2) for C McCormack, J Halligan for N O'Reilly.

Offaly - P Dunican; D Hogan, E Rigney, D Dempsey (0-1); J O'Connor, P McConway, C Donohue; C Mangan, P Cunningham (0-1f); S Horan (0-1), A Sullivan (0-1), N Darby; B Allen (0-5, 4f), J Moloney, R McNamee (0-2). Subs: E Carroll for C Mangan, S Tierney (0-1) for A Sullivan, C Carroll for R McNamee, PJ Daly for D Hogan.

Referee - C Branagan.

**

Longford - P Collum; D Quinn, A Farrell, B O'Farrell; C P Smyth, B McKeon, D Mimnagh; D Gallagher (0-2, 1'45), M Quinn; P Lynn, S Donohoe, P Gill; R Smyth (1-3, 0-2f, 0-1m), L Connerton, C Lee. Subs: D Doherty (0-1) for C Lee, N Rabbitte (0-1) for S Donohoe (BC), J Hagan (0-1) for P Lynn.

Louth - F Sheekey; H Osborne, D Marks, D Corcoran; A Williams, B Duffy, J Clutterbuck; T Durnin (0-1), C Early; R Moore, C Downey (0-1), C McKeever (0-1); A McDonnell, T McEneaney (0-1), R Burns (0-4, 2f, 1m). Subs: C Early (BC), F Donohoe for D Marks, S Mulroy (0-1) for T McEneaney, C Brannigan for R Moore, E Carolan for B Duffy, E Duffy for C Downey, E Callaghan for C McKeever.

Referee - N Mooney.

**

Carlow - R Molloy; C Crowley, S Redmond, B J Molloy; J Morrissey, D St Ledger, C Moran; B Murphy (0-1), E Ruth (0-2f); S Gannon, D Foley (0-2f), L Walker; P Broderick (1-5, 1-1'45, 0-2f), D O'Brien, S Murphy (0-1). Subs: D Walsh for C Moran, S Clarke for L Walker.

Sligo - A Devaney (0-1f); N Mullen, P Laffey, J Carr; K Cawley, P McNamara, G O'Kelly Lynch (0-1m); P Kilcoyne, D Cummins (0-1m); L Towey, P O'Connor, S Carrabine (0-1m); B McGowan, D Quinn, N Murphy (0-2f). Subs: A McIntyre for K Cawley, P Hughes for B McGowan, L Gaughan (0-1) for D Quinn, A Marron for P O'Connor, L Nicholson for G O'Kelly Lynch.

Referee - J Molloy.

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