Down 0-13 Antrim 0-9: Mournemen hold off Saffrons in scrappy and niggly contest

Down progressed to an Ulster Football semi-final meeting with Fermanagh or Armagh by overcoming Antrim 0-13 to 0-9 in a scrappy contest at Pairc Esler.

The game was niggly with players squaring up before the start and an Antrim backroom man sent off for a strike after the half-time whistle.

But despite that passion, it was not a match that will linger in the memory.

After playing against the wind, Down led 0-6 to 0-3 and Antrim never got closer than three behind thereafter.

Daniel Guinness was one of the more impressive performers as he superbly set up up a Miceal Rooney point in the opening 35 minutes and then fisted two second-half scores.

Antrim, who remain without a win in the Ulster Championship since 2014, were only three in arrears with 11 minutes of normal time left but Down were able to put the game to bed despite a display that will not have impressed manager Conor Laverty.

A lengthy period of added time was required after a late injury to Antrim full-back Eunan Walsh after he took an totally accidental knee to the head from a team-mate.

Down led 0-6 to 0-3 after a first-half which had a number of skirmishes that continued after the half-time whistle

The Down boss made three changes from his side's disappointing display in the Allianz Football League Division Three Final defeat by Westmeath two weeks ago as Shealan Johnston, Conor McCrickard and Barry O'Hagan came in for Finn McElroy, James Guinness and John McGovern.

McGovern took his place on the Down bench after coming on as a substitute some 90 minutes earlier for Newry City in the Irish Premiership defeat by Dungannon Swifts but didn't get any action.

After having to battle hard to avoid relegation to Division Four, Antrim went in as huge underdogs with their prospects not helped by the absence of several experienced campaigners including skipper Peter Healy, Ryan Murray and Aghagallon's Ruairi McCann.

Tempers flared before the start with Down's Odhran Murdock and Antrim's Joseph Finnegan yellow carded following a bit of push and shove involving several players as they broke off from the pre-match parade.

Despite Antrim's wind advantage, Down made a fast start with full-back Ryan McEvoy bursting forward to point after only 43 seconds and Pat Havern converting a free three minutes later.

Despite having had half-forward Conor Hand black carded, the Saffrons got off the mark in the ninth minute as keeper Michael Byrne slotted a 45 after his opposite number John O'Hare had made a smart save to deny Finnegan following the centre half-back's burst into the Down defence.

Ryan McQuillan did swing over a fine levelling point from distance in the 15th but it was one of the few occasions Antrim used the wind effectively, as Down were able to counter their short-passing and running game with defensive numbers.

Guinness' clever pass enabled Rooney to kick Down ahead again in the 18th minute and they extended their advantage to 0-6 to 0-3 by the interval, with their second-quarter scores highlighted by Ryan Johnston's superb outside-of-the-right-boot effort from a mark despite the strong wind.

Following some friction as the players and officials made their way off the field at half-time, Antrim's strength and conditioning coach Brendan Murphy was red carded by referee Barry Cassidy at the start of the second half although it appeared obvious that the Derry whistler had picked out the wrong man.

Oisin Savage, who had had been introduced early on for injured Havern, extended Down's lead after the restart with one of his three successful frees.

Guinness' two fisted points helped Down keep Antrim at arm's length as they led by four on two occasions, with the Saffrons' most promising moment at that stage of the contest coming when Creggan man Ruairi McCann burst through only to be upended on the edge of the square by Liam Kerr.

McQuillan pointed the resultant free but that was an acceptable outcome for the home side.

Points from Marc Jordan and Eoghan McCabe left only a kick of the ball in it with just over 10 minutes of normal time remaining but Down closed out the game as Savage, substitute and corner-back Ceilum Doherty pointed before Antrim's frantic late efforts in the closing minutes of injury-time.

Down: J O'Hare; P Fegan, R McEvoy (0-1), C Doherty (0-1); M Rooney (0-1), P Laverty (capt), D Guinness (0-2); S Johnston (0-1), O Murdock; C McCrickard, L Kerr (0-1), R Johnston (0-1); B O'Hagan, P Havern (0-1), D Magill.

Subs: O Savage (0-3) for Havern 24 mins, E Brown for McCrickard 47, S Annett (0-1) for O'Hagan 52, R Mason for Magill 74.

Antrim: M Byrne (0-1); R Boyle, E Walsh, K Keenan; D Lynch, J Finnegan, D McAleese (cat); C Hynds, M Jordan (0-1); C Hands (0-1), P McBride (0-1), E McCabe (0-1); R McQuillan (0-3), R McCann (0-1), D McEnhill.

Subs: N Burns for McEnhill half-time, P McAleer for Boyle 52, E Hynds for Walsh 66, P Shivers for McQuillan 76

Referee: B Cassidy (Derry)