Down 4-16, London 1-16: Down were made to work for 4-16 to 1-16 win over London today's Ulster SHC at Casement Park.
Although the scoreline appears comprehensive Down didn't have it all their own way. London full forward Martin Finn was accurate with frees all day long and was the game's top scorer (1-09).
Down went into the break with a 1-09 to 1-06 lead with points coming from Eoin Clarke, Brendan McGourty and Simon Wilson to open up the three point gap.
In the second half Brendan McGourty found the London net inside two minutes of the restart. But it wasn't all plain-sailing for Down who had to wait for two late Paul Branniff goals before victory was secure.
Down: Graham Clarke; L Clarke, S Murray, F Conway;
Gabriel Clarke, S Wilson
(0-2, both '65s), K Courtney; A Savage (0-1), R McGrattan; P
Braniff (2-4, 1f), B McGourty (1-3), E Trainor (0-1); E
Clarke (0-1), G Johnston (1-2), S Clarke
Subs: B Ennis (0-2) for S Clarke (46), P Hughes for Wilson
(60)
London: G McCollum; P Mulcahy, S McLoughlin, T
Simms; T Abernethy, N Healy, E Phelan; F McMahon (0-1), C
O'Halloran (0-2); J McCarthy, S Quinn, M Mythen; K McMullan
(0-1), M Finn (1-9, 1-8 frees), C McDonnell (0-1).
Subs: M Taylot for McDonnell (40), S Malone for McCarthy
(52).
Referee: B Sweeney (Cavan)