Down confirmed their promotion to Division Two when coming from behind to defeat Sligo by 2-25 to 0-21 at Markievicz Park.

Pat Havern accounted for 1-10 of the Mourne County’s tally as they marched to a sixth successive victory, Alan McLoughlin’s pointed free on the stroke of half time handing the Yeats County a 0-11 to 0-10 half-time lead.

McLoughlin’s two-pointer meant the hosts were still ahead with 14 minutes remaining but Ceilum Doherty’s 57th-minute goal turned the tide in the visitors’ favour.

Meanwhile, Wexford boosted their promotion hopes with a battling 1-23 to 2-17 victory over Clare in Ennis. Shane Doyle palmed to the net and the Model County struck a series of two-pointers to lead by 15 points at half time, 1-18 to 0-6.

The elements-assisted Banner mounted a spirited fightback thereafter, with Eoin Cleary and Mark McInerney netting to set up a tense finale but the Slaneysiders held on for a narrow victory.

Elsewhere in the third division, Westmeath eventually overpowered Limerick to keep alive their promotion aspirations – 4-21 to 3-8 at Mullingar, a result which sets up a winner-takes-all trip to Wexford in the final round.

The hosts led by 2-6 to 2-5 at half time, Luke Loughlin and Matthew Whittaker with their goals before Shane Cross and Peter Nash netted for the Treaty County.

Substitute Robbie Forde’s 45th-minute goal had the gap out to six but the way side replied with a James Naughton major. Relegation-threatened Limerick remained very much in contention for over an hour but the wind-assisted Lake County gradually took over, reeling off 1-9 without reply including a fourth goal from captain and top scorer Ronan Wallace eight minutes from the end.

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