Allianz National Football League Division 3 round-up

Longford 0-8 Down 0-13, Pearse Park

The midfield duo of Dan Gordon and Stephen Carney helped power Down to a five-point NFL Division 4 win over hosts Longford this afternoon.

The Mourne men moved into second place in the table, after pulling clear of Longford in the second half at Pearse Park.

Five points from John Fegan edged Ross Carr's side into a 0-7 to 0-6 half-time lead.

Fegan finished the game with 0-7 to his name, while Daniel Hughes impressed with a tidy 0-3.

Playing into the wind in the second period, Longford fell away and Down, despite missing flu victim Benny Coulter, pulled through.

Tipperary 1-16 Offaly 1-8, Semple Stadium

Niall McNamee was unfortunate to end up on the losing side at Semple Stadium as Tipperary proved too strong for a game Offaly side.

Tipp, collecting their third win in four NFL Division 3 games, leaked an early goal to McNamee but recovered to lead by 0-11 to 1-4 at half-time.

Brian Coen and Barry Grogan led the scoring for the home side, who beat their Munster rivals Limerick last weekend.

A run of five successive points before the break had John Evans' men in match-winning form.

McNamee finished the tie with 1-3 but Coen nabbed Tipp's goal in the second half to keep them ahead of the visitors.

Tipp's win has them on six league points and manager Evans, speaking last week, gave an insight into their aims for the NFL campaign.

He said: "The way I'm looking at it is that seven points will be required to stay in Division 3 and if the other teams keep taking points off each other, you could be looking at nine to get promoted.

"We're not looking at any other goals except staying up and any aspirations a team may have will to be reassessed after round five, with two games to play."

Louth 0-10 Roscommon 0-13, Drogheda

Roscommon boosted their hopes of gaining promotion from NFL Division 3 with a gutsy victory over Louth in Drogheda this afternoon.

Donie Shine was in sparkling form as he struck six points and Gary Cox and Senan Kilbride weighed in with a brace each as the Rossies came out on top.

Shine's two second half points, which included a magnificent effort from close to the left sideline, came at just the right time.

Louth were made to pay for a sluggish start and they were 0-8 to 0-4 behind at half-time.

Shine, Ger Heneghan and Kilbride all pointed in the opening quarter as they visitors set out their stall.

Louth, who lost to Offaly last time out, battled back in the second half but their day was summed up when JP Rooney's penalty attempt was brilliantly blocked by Geoffrey Claffey.