Down cruised into the Tailteann Cup semi-final with a comfortable win over Wicklow in Páirc Esler on Saturday afternoon.
Following their seven-point victory over Leitrim at Pearse Park in the preliminary quarter-final, Oisin McConville's side had some momentum coming to Newry, but while they gave Down a game in the first half, the favourites for the title never looked in trouble, leading from start to finish and were well worthy of their 1-18 to 0-12 win.
Conor Laverty's men got off to a bright start with Pat Havern scoring from a mark in the first minute and three minutes later, a high ball dropped in by James Guinness found John McGovern who fisted to the net.
Havern had a terrific game with an 0-06 tally and McGovern could have had two more goals kicking one wide and then he was denied by Wicklow keeper Mark Jackson who caused some concern for Down when he roamed forward and with his fine kicking skills delivered a few dangerous high balls into the square.
Kevin Quinn missed two scoreable points – the first from a mark and the second a free before Jackson converted a '45 to open Wicklow's account in the ninth minute.
Christopher O'Brien then missed a few more free chances, while at the other end Havern pointed a beauty from distance to give Down a 1-03 to 0-01 lead on 18 minutes.
O'Brien replied with the first from play for Wicklow but traded frees from Havern and Jackson kept the four-point margin intact.
Wicklow narrowed that to three with two of the next three scores but Down were twice denied maximums – firstly when Ryan Magill played a ball in for McGovern, whose flicked effort finished wide of the post and secondly moments before half-time, when a good team move saw Shealan Johnston pass to Conor McCrickard, who played on to McGovern but on that occasion Jackson intercepted the final pass.
Before that, Johnston hit the post but Daniel Guinness sent the rebound over the bar to give the Mournemen a 1-06 to 0-05 advantage at the break.
Havern began the second half as he did the first with a free but Wicklow came close to a three-pointer in reply when Darragh Fee was denied a shot at goal with an interception by Finn McElroy.
Havern made it a six-point game with a point from play but Wicklow scored two of the next three points to stay in touch, and when Quinn converted his third free on 50 minutes they reduced the deficit to four.
Down stayed in complete control of the game however and the subs made their mark too. They had another goal chance following a point from Burren player Liam Kerr with his first touch after being introduced. He stormed forward with ball in hand, aiming his pass for another sub Oisin Savage at the far post but Gavin Fogarty cleared off the line.
Kerr could have had a maximum on 68 minutes with Jackson well off his lines but he opted for a point and it mattered little in the end, as Down had done more than enough to warrant their nine-point victory when the final whistle blew.
Down: J O'Hare; P Fegan, R McEvoy (0-01'45), P Laverty; M Rooney, D Guinness (0-02), S Johnston (0-04); R Magill, O Murdock; F McElroy, J Guinness, P McCarthy; J McGovern (1-00), P Havern (0-06,1m, 2f), C McCrickard.
Subs: D Magill (0-01) for J Guinness (23), C Doherty (0-01) for R Magill (h-t), O Savage (0-01, 1f)for McGovern (47), L Kerr (0-02) for McCrickard (56), R Johnston for Rooney (62)
Wicklow: M Jackson (0-03, 2'45, 1f); C McDonald, M Stone, P O'Keane (0-01); M Nolan, E Murtagh, E Darcy; D Healy, P O'Toole (0-01); D Fee, C O'Brien (0-02), J Kirwan; J Carlin, K Quinn (0-04,4f), J Paul Nolan
Subs: M Kelly for JP Nolan (44), O McGreynor (0-01) for Darcy (51), G Fogarty for McDonald (53), J Prendergast for Murtagh (62), Murphy for O'Toole (65)
Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford)
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