Down came from five points behind in the closing five minutes to edge Antrim by 2-18 to 2-17 in a cracking contest in Newry tonight.

The victory marks the Mourne men’s second in as many games in Division 3 of the Allianz Football League and was achieved by a run of 1-4, including a Conor Poland goal, which rocked the visitors late on.

Two goals from Ruairi McCann helped Antrim to take in the lead at half-time (2-8 to 1-9), despite Andrew Gilmore hitting their net on the half-hour mark.

The hosts levelled early on in the resumption but Andy McEntee’s men got motoring again to eventually open a four-point lead with 10 minutes remaining.

Poland’s goal on 67 minutes changed the game however, and points from Pat Havern and substitute Mark Walsh followed as the Mourne men rode their momentum to a remarkable one-point victory.

Down win 2-18 to 2-17 - how, I do not know. Antrim the better team for much of the game, led by five at a point in the second half

But Pat Havern stepped up to the job in the final few minutes, and a flicked Conor Poland goal pushed the comeback on. Mad game pic.twitter.com/uTAyU1X1KL

— Neil Loughran (@neil_loughran) February 4, 2023

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