It’s free and easy for Braniff

DOWN’S hurlers strolled to an Ulster SHC semi-final, hammering Derry by 16 points at Casement Park yesterday.

Early first-half goals from Gareth Johnson and Paul Braniff set the scene for a Down win, but Alan Grant replied with a Derry major before the break to keep the Oak Leafers in contention.

A Braniff free completed the first-half scoring with Down 2-7 to 1-6 to the good, and the dead-ball expert added two more just after the restart. Derry replied through Ruairi Convery with the first of just three second-half scores.