Offaly battle back for draw as Limerick defeat aids Faithful cause

Sligo 0-13 Offaly 1-10

Offaly secured a draw against Sligo in their Allianz Football League Division 3 clash at Markievicz Park on Saturday. And Limerick's defeat to Wicklow in Aughrim has given the Faithful men an additional boost in their mission to stave off the threat of relegation.

Wicklow's win over Limerick means the Treaty men are condemned to relegation and therefore will have nothing tangible to play for when they visit Tullamore next Sunday.

Offaly led by two points at half-time against Sligo, 1-6 to 0-7, the goal coming from an Anton Sullivan penalty.

But with Sean Carrabine to the fore, Sligo still managed to forge 0-13 to 1-8 ahead with about ten minutes remaining.

However, points by Keith O’Neill and Nigel Dunne earned Offaly a share of the spoils which moves them on to three points on the table. And if Offaly can avoid defeat at home to Limerick next Sunday, their place in Division 3 will be secure for next year.

The only way Offaly can be demoted is with a defeat to already relegated Limerick, combined with an away win for Wicklow over Antrim.

Last Saturday's result also ended any hope Sligo had of being in the promotion mix in the final round of games.

From early in the campaign, many observers predicted that Wicklow and Limerick would be relegated to Division 4 and half of that prediction has now come to pass.

Wicklow will need to beat Antrim in Belfast next Sunday in order to survive. Antrim are not yet safe as a defeat to Wicklow combined with an Offaly win over Limerick would see the Saffrons make the drop. But it seems a tall order for Wicklow - who have by far the worst scoring difference in the division (-45) - to pull off a victory at Corrigan Park.

At the other end of the table, the battle for the two promotion places is between Down, Westmeath and Clare.

Division 3 - remaining fixtures

(Sunday, March 24, all 2pm)

Offaly v Limerick, Glenisk O'Connor Park

Antrim v Wicklow, Corrigan Park

Sligo v Westmeath, Markievicz Park

Down v Clare, Páirc Esler.