Antrim 3-13 Down 0-9: Antrim won a bruising National League tie, in which four players were yellow-carded and one sent off, by outplaying their Ulster rivals Down at Portaferry yesterday.

Apart from the opening 10 minutes when the sides were level at 0-3 each this was a stroll for Antrim. They dominated midfield through Brendan Herron and Colm McGuckian and later Paul Close who replaced McGuckian after he had been yellow-carded after 20 minutes.

The Antrim half-back line of Michael McCambridge, who was yellow-carded after 60 minutes and replaced by Michael Hamilton, Gavin Bell and Ciarán Herron closed out the Down attack.

The Antrim attack was in sparkling form with Johnny McIntosh, Michael Herron and Brendan Quinn picking off scores from all ranges and angles.

When Andy Savage was yellow-carded five minutes before half-time Down fell asunder and were punished to the full. Apart from Stephen Clarke and Brendan McGourty their attack was weak.

Michael Herron finished a brilliant Antrim move with a goal after 15 minutes. Antrim kept up the pressure adding five further points to lead by 1-9 to 0-5 at half-time.

Antrim finished strongly with goals from substitute Darren Quinn, who was red-carded just minutes after he scored, and Johnny McIntosh to give them a comprehensive victory.

ANTRIM: G Magee; A Caireallain, K Kelly, J Campbell; M McCambridge, G Bell, C Herron (0-1); B Herron (0-1), C McGuckian; M Herron (1-5), C Hamill, M Scullion; B Quinn (0-2), J McIntosh (1-3), K Stewart. Subs: D Quinn (1-0) for Stewart, P Close (0-1) for C McGuckian.

DOWN: Graham Clarke; L Clarke, S Murray, P Hughes; Gabriel Clarke, G Savage, P Monan; S Wilson (0-3), A Savage (0-1); B McGourty (0-1), G Johnson, S Clarke (0-4); P Smith, A Bell, E Clarke. Subs: D Flynn for Gabriel Clarke, J McCusker for Smith.

YELLOW CARDS: Antrim: C McGuckian replaced by P Close, M McCambridge replaced by M Hamilton. Red card: D Quinn. Down: A Savage replaced by E Trainor, S Murray replaced by J Doherty.

Referee: G Devlin (Armagh).