Allianz Hurling League finals: Division 2, 3 and 4 titles decided

Darragh Melville of Kildare in action against Liam Savage of Down during the Allianz Hurling League Division 2 final at Grattan Park in Inniskeen, Monaghan. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile

Cahir McManus of Fermanagh in action against John Casey of Louth during the Allianz Hurling League Division 4 final match at St Mellans Park. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile

thumbnail: Darragh Melville of Kildare in action against Liam Savage of Down during the Allianz Hurling League Division 2 final at Grattan Park in Inniskeen, Monaghan. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
thumbnail: Cahir McManus of Fermanagh in action against John Casey of Louth during the Allianz Hurling League Division 4 final match at St Mellans Park. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
Ultán Corcoran

Down enjoyed a seven-point win over Kildare in the battle for the Division 2 title, with London losing out to Mayo in the Division 3 final and while Louth prevailed over Fermanagh in the Division 4 decider.

Here’s how the action unfolded.

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Dylan O'Connell
Hurling Division 2 Final: (full-time)
Down 4-22 Kildare 3-18 (Inniskeen)

Hurling Division 3 Final: (full-time)
London 1-08 Mayo 0-14 (Hawkfield Park)

Hurling Division 4 Final: (full-time)
Fermanagh 1-08 Louth 0-16 (Truagh)
Dylan O'Connell
That's the end of our coverage for today's National Hurling League finals. It was a pleasure to keep you up to speed with the action. 

We will be back shortly for the Football Division 4 final between Wexford and Limerick at 5pm, which will be followed by the Football Division 2 decider contested by Monaghan and Roscommon at 7.15pm. Both games will be televised on TG4 and the TG4 Player online.
Dylan O'Connell
Hurling Division 3 Final: (full-time)
London 1-08 Mayo 0-14

A strong second-half from Mayo sees Ray Larkin and Brian Finn's men take glory in Division 3. Late scores from Liam Lavin, Shane Boland and Eoin Delaney wrapped it up. Boland himself registered 0-6 alone from corner-forward. 

Hurling Division 4 Final: (full-time)
Fermanagh 1-08 Louth 0-16

The Wee County have emerged victorious in the Division 4 decider. Another sensational afternoon for Darren Geoghegan from placed balls and play with 0-9 to his name. 
Sean Glynn of London in action against Conor Murray of Mayo.
Sean Glynn of London in action against Conor Murray of Mayo. Sportsfile
Dylan O'Connell
FULL-TIME: Down are Division 2 champions! 

So it finishes Down 4-22 to Kildare's 3-18 in the end - what a sensational game of hurling that was in Inniskeen. 

Kildare lead by 1-10 to 0-11 at the break thanks to Jack Sheridan's goal. Things got better for the Lilywhites early in the second-half when Sheridan and Darragh Melville netted two more goals. 

But it would be the Mourne men who finished strong with two goals from Tom McGrattan who was unstoppable in the second-half, while Tim Prenter's late three-pointer added gloss to the final score. 
Pearse Óg McCrickard of Down in action against Liam O’Reilly of Kildare.
Pearse Óg McCrickard of Down in action against Liam O’Reilly of Kildare. Sportsfile
Dylan O'Connell
70+5' Down 4-22 Kildare 3-18

GOAL!
With almost all of the Kildare team in the Down half, the Mourne men send it long to Ronan Beatty who unselfishly lays it off to Tim Prenter. The wing-forward takes his time, goes one-on-one with Paddy McKenna and taps it past the Lilywhites goalkeeper. That will seal it now! 
Dylan O'Connell
70+3' With Kildare trailing by 4 on the scoreboard, David Qualter goes for goal from a free. Stephen Keith is behind it and makes the save. 

Another free in after a lengthy stoppage for medical attention given to a Down player sees Qualter try his luck once more - Stephen Keith to the rescue once again! 
Dylan O'Connell
70' Down 3-22 Kildare 3-18

The Down supporters feel they have this one as Eoghan Sands and Tom McGrattan register scores. 

David Qualter replies for Kildare - there will be 4 minutes of added time to play in Inniskeen.
Dylan O'Connell
Hurling Division 3 Final: (68 mins)
London 1-07 Mayo 0-14 

Scores from Jason Coyne and Liam Lavin have Mayo in the driving seat entering the final minutes of this Division 3 decider. 

Hurling Division 4 Final: (63 mins)
Fermanagh 1-07 Louth 0-14

Fermanagh just can't live with the efficiency of Darren Geoghegan who registers two scores either side of a Paddy Lynch point. 
Dylan O'Connell
66' Down 3-20 Kildare 3-17

Down could have found a route to goal there had Pearse Og McCrickard not briefly lost possession - the corner-forward did well to regather before splitting the posts. 
Dylan O'Connell
65' Down 3-19 Kildare 3-17

GOAL!
Its a bitter one to concede from a Kildare perspective - Marc Fisher's free from well inside the Down half appears to drop through a crowd of bodies in the large parallelogram and ricochet into Paddy McKenna's net. 

Kildare respond thorugh a David Qualter free before Eoghan Sands taps over a score for Down. 
Dylan O'Connell
59' Down 2-18 Kildare 3-16

James Burke guides over the latest score in Inniskeen as the Naas man nudges the Lilywhites back in front.

A big goal chance at the other end for Down - Tom McGrattan is hooked just before he can connect with the sliotar as Paddy McKenna sweeps up possession to clear the lines. 
Dylan O'Connell
54' Down 2-18 Kildare 3-15

GOAL!
Tom McGrattan cuts in and with a deft swing of the hurl drives the sliotar into the lower left corner of Paddy McKenna's goal.

And suddenly we are level! Donal Hughes fires over a point in the next passage of play to tie things up. 
Dylan O'Connell
Hurling Division 3 Final: (52 mins)
London 1-06 Mayo 0-09 

A pair of points from Jason Coyne briefly nudges Mayo ahead before David Devine replies for London midway through this second-half. 

Hurling Division 4 Final: (52 mins)
Fermanagh 1-06 Louth 0-12

Sean Flynn and Darren Geoghegan have tagged on scores for Louth since the restart, but it's Fermanagh who trail by three after John Duffy's latest score for the Erne men.
Dylan O'Connell
49' Down 1-17 Kildare 3-14

After a brief drought in scores, Kildare finally arise from their slumber as David Qualter and substitute Gerry Keegan tag on points.

Donal Hughes replies for Down at the other end.
Dylan O'Connell
44' Down 1-16 Kildare 3-12

Down reel off four scores on the trot with two from Tom McGrattan, and a point each from Tim Prenter and Chris Egan. What a response from Ronan Sheehan's side having conceded two goals straight after the break.
Dylan O'Connell
40' Down 1-12 Kildare 3-11

GOAL!
Tom McGrattan responds for Down who needed that! A superbly taken goal gets them back in the game. 
Dylan O'Connell
38' Down 0-12 Kildare 3-10

TWO QUICKFIRE GOALS! Jack Sheridan rattles the net shortly after the restart of this second-half and Jack Melville follows up with a goal of his own. Kildare are on fire! 
Dylan O'Connell
Hurling Division 3 Final:(half-time)
London 1-05 Mayo 0-04

It's London who are ahead at the break in Kildare's centre of excellence as Paul Kennedy (0-3) and Conor O'Carroll's goal lead the way for the Exiles. 

Hurling Division 4 Final:(half-time)
Fermanagh 1-04 Louth 0-10

Sean Corrigan's goal sent the Erne men into an early lead, but Darren Geoghegan (0-6) has been on fire for Louth as has Mark Gahan (0-2). Francis McBrien tagged on the last score of the half for Fermanagh to keep them in touch.
John Casey of Louth in action against Cahir McManus of Fermanagh during the Allianz Hurling League Division 4 final.
John Casey of Louth in action against Cahir McManus of Fermanagh during the Allianz Hurling League Division 4 final. Sportsfile
Dylan O'Connell
HALF-TIME: Down 0-11 Kildare 1-10

Its the Lilywhites who lead at the interval largely thanks to Jack Sheridan's goal in the 18th-minute from Naas GAA's Jack Sheridan.

Eoghan Sands has been Down's standout player with 0-4 at the break. This one is very much still in the balance after a fluid and sometimes feisty first-half in Inniskeen.
Darragh Melville of Kildare in action against Liam Savage of Down.
Darragh Melville of Kildare in action against Liam Savage of Down. Sportsfile
Dylan O'Connell
35' Down 0-11 Kildare 1-10

Pearse Og McCrickard rounds off a neat Down attack with a score from play. We will have 2 minutes of additional time to play before the break.