Havern claims 14 points as Down assert their dominance at Chadwick Park
The Allianz Football League,
Venue: Chadwick Park, Wexford, on Sunday 22nd February 2026,
NFL Division 3 League Match,
Final Score: Wexford 1-19 Down 1-29.
The Mourne men stretched their run of wins to a fourth victory, comfortably beating home side Wexford who struggled for most of the match against a Down side who were highly focussed on collecting the vital points for promotion to Division Two.
The match kicked off with both sides pressing for advantage and there was only a point of a difference at the half-time whistle with Down just ahead having played into the wind.
The Down men were 0-10 to 0-8 ahead when Wexford made a push forward and Adam Crimmins scored a goal on 29 minutes. This lifted the Wexford side and then took three 2-pointers from Mark Rossitor, Darragh Brooks and Eoghan Nolan.
Down kept in touch with Wexford and clawed back the lead. Pat Havern notched up 14 points overall in the exchange with Wexford bolstering his sides efforts. He got on to the scoresheet in just a couple of minutes following up with another succession of points.
Down were sharp on the ball and passed well on the day and looked the better of the two sides as Wexford fell away in the second half.
Daniel Guinness kicked an excellent ball high into the Wexford goalmouth approaching half-time and John McGeogh was there to knock it in for a goal keeping the score tally in a healthy state not slipping behind the home team.
But the first half was tricky for Down men as Wexford dug in and the double 2-pointers by the Wexford keeper Darragh Brooks kept them alive in the game but Down after the first period were 2 points to the better at half-time.
Wexford took a few more points but Down dug deep and fought back. But it was Murdock who claimed two two pointers to set Down up on a lead.
Eoin Porter scored a last gasp goal for Wexford but it was academic as Down had build up a convincing lead winning by a clear 13 points having ground down the Wexford opposition through the second half.
Down face Fermanagh at Pairc Esler on Saturday 28th February at their home ground in Pairc Esler and again they will be looking for a win to help seal a promotion into the second division.
Conor Laverty’s Down team are on a roll following their strong team effort against Wexford and their sound fan base will be shouting them on as always.
