Down make step up with impressive win in Clare
A ringing endorsement for the Tailteann Cup as holders Down made the step up to a first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship tie in six years with a facile victory over Clare in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg.
In front of just 1,556 in sun-soaked Ennis, the wind-assisted Ulster side may have conceded the opening point but far from being a portent of what was to come from their provincial final scorned hosts, by half-time the tie was all but over.
Conor Laverty's side could have goaled in the very first attack, only for Ryan McEvoy to blaze a near post shot wide. However, once Pat Havern landed his 18th two-pointer of 2025 in only the third minute, Down would never look back as they outscored a lacklustre Banner by 1-9 to 0-1 over the next 20 minutes.
Odhran Murdock's delivery was flicked to the net from close range by John McGeough while Danny Magill arrowed over a superb two-pointer unchallenged to ensure a double scores lead entering the second quarter.
A mini Clare revival of points from Emmet McMahon (2) and Mark McInerney weren't decorated by a goal as Brian McNamara's shot was blocked by Ryan Magill. Three minutes later, another home defensive lapse allowed Daniel Guinness to pick up possession in his own half and solo the length of the field playing a deft one-two with Murdock before nestling his shot into the net at 2-12 to 0-05.
An angered Banner did hit back with a like score as a six man back-to-front move was emphatically finished to the net by Aaron Griffin. However, it would be lessened by further two-pointers for Magill and Havern to boost a physically superior Down to a 2-17 to 1-06 interval cushion.
The only way was up for Clare and they did respond in the third quarter, thanks in the main to Mark McInerney who raided for five points capped off by a two-pointer while Emmet McMahon had a goalbound shot repelled by Pierce Laverty at 2-20 to 1-13.
Ten points would be as close as Peter Keane's side would come to the leaders however who hit back with a 1-5 blitz over the next eight minutes, with substitute Caolan Mooney on the end of a clinching third goal at 3-24 to 1-13.
A luckless Clare hit the crossbar through Aaron Griffin in injury-time but did manage the consolation of an Emmet McMahon two-pointer to lessen the final damage.
Down meanwhile couldn't have asked for a more ideal start as they carry clear momentum into a juicy home derby against newly-crowned Leinster champions Louth in a fortnight's time.
Scorers for Down: P Havern (0-9, 1tp, 1tpf, 3f); D Magill (0-7, 2tp); J McGeough, D Guinness (1-1 each); A Crimmins (0-3); C Mooney (1-0); J Guinness, O Murdock (1f) (0-2 each); M Rooney, R McEvoy (0-1 each)
Scorers for Clare: M McInerney (0-6, 1tp, 1f, 1'45); E McMahon (0-5, 1tp, 2f); A Griffin (1-1); D Coughlan (0-2); E Cleary, J Stack (0-1 each)
Down: R Burns; P McCarthy, P Laverty, R Magill; M Rooney, P Fegan, C Doherty; D Guinness, D Magill; J Guinness, O Murdock, R McEvoy; J McGeough, P Havern, A Crimmins Subs: C Mooney for Doherty (35+2, inj), P Brooks for R. Magill (45), S Millar for McEvoy (54), F Murdock for J. Guinness (60), C McCrickard for McGeough (62), D Scullion for O. Murdock (67)
Clare: E Tubridy; R Lanigan, C Brennan, M Doherty; C Rouine, I Ugwueru, C Meaney; B McNamara, E McMahon; G Murray, E Cleary, D Coughlan; M McInerney, K Sexton, A Griffin Subs: A Sweeney for Brennan (15, inj), D Walsh for Murray (35+2), F Kelleher for Meaney (HT), S Griffin for (60, inj), J Stack for Cleary (63)
Referee: P Neilan (Roscommon)
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