Donal O’Hare strikes late to shock the Lilywhites

Allianz Football League 2

1 February 2015; Daryl O'Brien, Kildare, in action against Brendan McArdle, Down. Allianz Football League Division 2 Round 1, Kildare v Down. St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, Co. Kildare

Two goals in the space of a minute snatched a dramatic 3-13 to 1-15 victory for Down over shellshocked Kildare at St Conleth’s Park yesterday

Kildare were leading by three points in the last seconds of normal time when substitute Arthur McConville palmed to the net, after Paul Devlin’s free from 45m had come back off the crossbar.

From the kickout, Devlin launched a spectacular point and there was still time for Donal O’Hare to breach the Kildare defence to secure the two points.

Goals in each half from Danny Cummins and Shane Walsh saw Galway to a convincing 2-13 to 1-12 victory over Meath at Pearse Stadium.

Cummins was the stand-out performer with a 1-3 haul.

Meath’s cause was not aided by the 48th minute black card handed to Andrew Tormey, but despite the setback they rallied with the next four points to pull within two of the Tribesmen.

However, Galway clinched the win in a two-minute spell where they kicked an unanswered 1-3. The goal from Shane Walsh in the 61st minute killed off the Meath challenge, despite Jamie Queeney’s late consolation goal.

Westmeath opened their campaign with a 1-12 to 0-10 victory over 13-man Laois in Mullingar, their first win in league or championship since 2013.

Captain Ger Egan teed up James Dolan for a goal and a 1-6 to 0-5 interval lead.

An Evan O’Carroll ‘45’ had Laois level at 0-10 to 1-7, but in between the dismissals of Padraig McMahon and Brendan Quigley, Westmeath notched five unanswered points to clinch the points.