Down will be without their free-taker Donal O’Hare for their round 2 Qualifier against Cavan on Saturday.

Down 1-18 Antrim 0-14

Michael Quinlivan says back-to-back promotions for Tipperary might have been “a step too soon” and is glad they’re staying in Division Two for another season.

Meath boss Andy McEntee expressed a mixture of delight and relief after his team boosted their prospects of avoiding the drop to division three following this polished display against fellow strugglers Down at Pairc Tailteann yesterday.

He would have been entitled to feel smug or wag a finger in the general direction of his detractors after a torrid 18 months, but Eamonn Burns instead used his winning platform to heap praise on his unfancied Down team after they pulled off the county’s first Ulster championship win over Armagh in 25 years.

Derry 1-07 - Down 1-15: Down boss Eamonn Burns was thrilled after watching his side destroy Derry to chalk up successive National League victories and move clear of the bottom two in Division Two.

Down 1-13 Meath 0-14: It was a long time coming, so Eamonn Burns was relieved to get Down over the winning line as they picked up a first Allianz League victory in almost two years.

Allianz FL Division 2

CBC Cork 1-12 Scoil na Tríonóide Naofa, Doon 1-8: A 47th-minute Billy Cain goal helped CBC retain the Munster Colleges Junior ‘B’ Hurling Championship title in Mallow yesterday.

Donegal 1-11 Down 0-11: Frank McGlynn’s goal, after only 68 seconds, fired Donegal to a useful opening-day win over Down, in the Dr McKenna Cup, at Ballybofey.

Down 3-12 Laois 1-15: Down’s ability to find the net helped them clinch promotion back to Division One while Laois maintained their league status despite defeat in Pairc Esler yesterday.

Down 1-17, Galway 1-16: Kevin Walsh was left regretting Galway’s wastefulness as Down came with a late charge to snatch a valuable win which moved them to the top of Div 2 in the Allianz Football League.

University of Ulster 0-10 DCU 3-10

Kildare 1-15 Down 3-13: Allianz Football League Division 2: A crestfallen Jason Ryan was left to rue another late collapse by his Kildare players as they conceded two goals and a point in the space of a minute at the end of the game to throw away victory.

Down 3-13 Kildare 1-15

Down 1-13 University of Ulster 1-07: Down made light of terrible conditions in Páirc Esler to see off the students in last night’s Dr McKenna Cup tie.

WITH a swashbuckling second-half performance on Saturday evening, Down set up a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland SFC final by demolishing Antrim.

Down 3-13 Antrim 0-10

DOWN kept their championship season motoring along at Páirc Esler on Saturday but there was little to suggest the journey through the scenic route will be as rewarding as last year.

Down 1-16 Leitrim 1-08

THERE must have been mixed emotions for the Down football fraternity in Croke Park on Saturday.

TWO stunning Caolan Mooney goals secured a second successive MacRory Cup title for St Colman’s Newry in a compelling final at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh yesterday.

NIALL McNAMEE and Niall Darby hit 13 points between them, as 2008 champions Rhode booked their place in the Offaly SFC final with this impressive performance at O’Connor Park on Saturday.

Cork Constitution will give an AIL debut to possible Ireland Under-20 second row Brian Hayes at home to UL-Bohemian at Temple Hill tomorrow.

The match of the day in the AIB Senior Cup takes place at Donnybrook where the tenents Bective Rangers and Old Wesley will do battle.

The match of the day in tomorrow's AIB Senior Cup takes place at Donnybrook where the tenants Bective Rangers and Old Wesley will do battle.

Down 0-9 Mayo 2-9

Down 2-16 Dublin 2-14