Cavan ... 0-14 Down ... 1-8: Cavan returned to winning form at Breffni Park yesterday when they were much too strong for a disappointing Down side. However, there was little to enthuse about the game with the first half being particularly poor.

Cavan, with the aid of a strong breeze, failed to make the most of the elements and by half-time Down were very much in the game with the scores level at 1-4 to 0-7.

Down recovered from a shaky start to take the lead through a Gregory McCartan penalty in the eighth minute. Cavan responded with points from Jason Reilly and Larry Reilly who were causing problems for Down. Further scores from Gerald Pierson, Barry McCrudden, Larry Reilly and Finbarr O'Reilly left the sides deadlocked at the interval.

After a number of changes, Cavan gradually took control to lead by 0-12 to 1-4 with 10 minutes left to play. They could also afford the luxury of missing a penalty, five minutes into the second half, when James Doonan's shot went over the bar.

Down had to wait until five minutes from the end of normal time for their opening scores of the second half from Shane King, who pointed two frees. Although Cavan were pinned back in the remaining minutes, points from Peter and Larry Reilly ensured victory.

CAVAN: A Donoghue; E Reilly, T Prior, C Hannon; M Brides, A Forde, J Doonan (0-1); B McCrudden (0-1), P McKenna; P Galligan, P Reilly (0-3), F O'Reilly (0-5); L Reilly (0-3), J Reilly (0-1), G Pierson (0-1). Subs: P Kermath for B McCrudden; R Rogers for P Galligan; M Graham for G Pierson.

DOWN: P Travers; K McGrath, C Byrne, S Treanor; A Molloy (0-1), M Magill , Clarke; G McCartan (1-0), B Burns; J Lynch (0-1), A Oprey, S Ward; R Murtagh (0-1), S King (0-5), A Carville. Subs: L Doyle for M Magill; C Daly for S Ward; P McConville for A Carville.

Referee: E Murtagh (Longford).