Super sub Sean Quigley snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for Fermanagh in a heart-stopping affair in Ederney.
The veteran followed in a long lob from Garvan Jones and punched the ball from the grasp of Down goalkeeper Niall Kane in the 74th minute.
It looked like Conor Francis had secured victory for Down when he found the net after the ball came off the Erne crossbar in the 69th minute to leave Down leading by 3-10 to 1-14.
And if Lady Luck played a slight role in that final goal, the home side fully deserved victory.
They were well worth their 0-10 to 0-04 lead but gave away a soft goal after the break when goalkeeper Sean McNally was dispossessed in no-man's land, although he seemed to be fouled.
A penalty ensued when a Down player was taken down in the square with McNally adrift, Down midfielder Odhran Murdock converting the spot kick.
This reduced Fermanagh's lead to 0-11 to 1-05 and set the scene for a frenetic second half as both sides went for the jugular.
Down corner-back Pierce Laverty punched a goal for an increasingly rampant Down side.
But the excellent Ultan Kelm hit two superb points into the breeze and set up Conor McGee for a goal to put the home side ahead by 2-08 to 0-13 in the 58th minute.
The pace quickened in those final frenetic moments that kept the large crowd on their toes.
Wind-assisted Fermanagh had a bright start with Ronan McCaffrey opening the scoring after two minutes.
The visitors hit back with a pointed free from the lively Liam Kerr.
But Fermanagh were already in the ascendancy and Ryan Lyons and Aidan Breen increased the lead to 0-03 to 0-01 by the seventh minute.
Down did hit back through a scything run that ended with marksman Pat Havern finishing with aplomb.
It was then that Darragh McGurn weighed in with a superb point from distance as Down responded through Havern after a searing run from Kerr was superbly saved by McNally.
Fermanagh were ruling midfield as Down replaced Niall Donnelly with Anthony Morgan.
McGurn and Lyons turned on the heat in the run up to the break with some excellent scores.
McGurn’s power caused the Down defence problems throughout and he and Kelm were the main threats up front.
This was a valuable victory for Fermanagh as defeat could have meant relegation issues.
Down will not be happy about the concession of that final goal and remain on four points.
Fermanagh: Sean McNally; Luke Flanagan, Lee Cullen, Cian McManus; Ronan McCaffrey (0-01), Jonathan Cassidy, Shane McGullion (0-01); Ryan Jones (0-01), Brandon Horan; Josh Largo Ellis, Ryan Lyons (0-02f), Ultan Kelm (0-02); Conor McShea (0-01), Darragh McGurn (0-05,1f) Aidan Breen (0-01).
Subs: Conor McGee (1-0) for Breen (45), Ciaran Corrigan for McShea (57), Sean Quigley (1-00) for Horan (60), Garvan Jones for Lyons (60).
Down: Niall Kane (0-01), Ryan Magill, Ryan McEvoy, Pierce Laverty (1-00); Conor Francis (1-00), Niall McParland, Shane Annett (0-01); Niall Donnelly, Odhran Murdock (1-00 pen); Ruairi McCormack, Owen McCabe, Liam Kerr (0-01f); Ceilum Doherty, Pat Havern (0-5,2f) Conor Poland.
Subs: Shay Millar (0-01) for McCabe (17), Anthony Morgan for Donnelly (24), Conor McCrickard for McParland (ht), Andrew Gilmore (0-01) for Poland (ht), Patrick Brannigan for Annett (55).
Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan).
