Shane Mulholland opted for Down over his customary commitment to Cliftonville on Saturday. He may well be regretting his choice. Down were as poor as they have looked for more than a decade as they capitulated totally to Derry's power and balance in the second half.

In the first half Down, with Shane Ward and Shane Mulholland looking dangerous, led until a minute before the break, and only trailed by 0-5 to 0-6 at half-time. The loss of midfielder Brian Burns was the last and most serious of a run of four such blows Down suffered in the first half, and as the home side waned Derry waxed.

Anthony Tohill and Dermot Heaney cruised forward at will. Dermot Dougan prompted and pulled, and the skilful Eamon Burns tormented the demoralised Down men. Ronan Rocks was left clear at the end of a delightful move to shoot the only goal of the game, but, in truth, Down got off lightly , with the Derry fowards guilty of some slopppy misses.

DERRY: E McCluskey; R Dougan, D O'Neill, G Coleman; K McKeever, H Downey, P McFlynn; A Tohill (0-3), D Heaney; B Gillis, D Dougan (0-3), R Rocks (1-1); S McLarnon (0- 1), E Burns (0-2), J McBride (0-5). Subs: B Murray for B Gillis; R Lynch for S McLarnon.

DOWN: P Travers; F Caulfield, C Byrne, P Shields; M McMurray, M Magill, S Poland; B Burns, G McCartan; R Carr, S Mulholland (0- 4), P Higgins (0-2); P Sloan, K McCabe, S Ward (0-1). Subs: A Molloy for K Byrne; B McAlinden for P Shields; P McGrath for P Sloan; E Woods for B Burns.

Referee: D Cosgrave (Cavan).