ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION TWO Down 2-11 Carlow 0-14:AN INEXPERIENCED Down side produced some brilliant hurling, especially in the first half, to overcome Carlow in this Allianz NHL Division Two game in sun-kissed but cold St Patrick's Park, Portaferry, yesterday.

Without six of their regular line up, Down made light of their handicap with the young players rising to the occasion and at the finish were most deserved winners.

Goals from Aaron O’Prey and an Eoin Clarke sideline that went straight to the net earned Down a 2-6 to 0-4 half-time lead.

Down battled to retain their two-point advantage and in a pulsating finish, Gareth Johnson and Paudie Kehoe twice exchanged points and although the Leinster men scored the final three points, the all important goal they needed to draw the game eluded them as the Down defence defended stubbornly.

DOWN: G Clarke; M Hughes, F Conway, S Ennis; B Toner, C Woods, M Ennis; A Savage, E Clarke (1-2, 1-0 sideline cut, one free, 65); J Coyle (0-1), S Clarke, A O'Prey (1-1); D Toner, G Johnson (0-5, 0-4 frees), P Keith (0-1). Subs: C Mageean (0-1) for D Toner; K McGarry for B Toner (50); S Nicholson for S Clarke (55); A Clarke for P Keith (65).

CARLOW: K Kehoe; A Corcoran, J Rogers, B Doyle; E Coady, D Kavanagh (0-4, three frees, 65), R Coady; J Kavanagh, E Nolan (0-3); M Brennan, HP O'Byrne, C Doyle (0-1 free); R Dunbar, E Byrne, P Kehoe (0-3, two frees). Subs: A Gaule (0-3) for HP O'Byrne (29); D Shaw for J Rogers (32).

Referee: R Matthews(Antrim).