A brace of Jonathan Lynam goals were key as Westmeath came from behind to defeat Down by 2-10 to 0-13 at Croke Park tonight to claim the Allianz Football League Division 3 title.

In the end, it was Lynam’s second major on the hour mark that swung the pendulum the Lake men’s way as it surged them into a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.

With these two sides having shared the points in their sixth-round meeting on St Patrick’s Day, another tight encounter was expected and, ultimately, unfolded here at headquarters.

Down edged a 0-8 to 1-4 lead at the halfway stage despite conceding a punched goal from Lynam in the 28th minute, as the points of Pat Havern helped the Ulster side to take in the smallest of leads at the break.

Dessie Dolan’s side would hit the front through the excellent Sam McCartan (0-4) after 52 minutes and, while Down hit back-to-back points in response, the Lake men landed another hammer blow with 10 minutes left that saw Lynam slipped through before composing himself for a cool low finish.

After that, two superbly weighed 45s from McCartan left Westmeath with one hand on the trophy and on the 70-minute mark Robbie Forde would fist over the insurance point for the Leinster men.

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Westmeath come out on top at Croke Park to win Division 3 of the Allianz Football League.@westmeath_gaa 2-10@officialdowngaa 0-13

Enjoy the best of the action with #GAANOW 👇👇 pic.twitter.com/1VxcU9Yo2t

— The GAA (@officialgaa) March 30, 2024

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