Down book semi-final spot

DOWN’S form in Ulster has been impressive and last night they sealed a place in the Dr McKenna Cup semi-finals where they take on Derry.

The team managed by James McCartan, who already opened the New Year with fine wins over Armagh and Monaghan, drew with St Mary’s in Newry. Down led 1-4 to 0-4 at the interval, Kalum King the first-half goalscorer, but St Mary’s came back to earn a 1-5 to 0-8 draw.

Derry’s two wins from two put them in an unassailable position and a Conleith Gilligan penalty in the third minute set them on their way to a 1-8 to 0-9 win in Ballybofey against Donegal, whose top scorer was Dermot Molloy with six points.

Armagh, who lost James Lavery to two yellow cards on 50 minutes, came through a tit-for-tat clash with Monaghan to win thanks to Paul Carvill’s late free, 0-13 to 0-12.

At Kingspan Breffni Park, UUJ were quick out of the blocks against Cavan. Goals from Kieran Highes and Diarmaid McNulty gave the students a 2-2 to 0-4 lead at the break. McNulty added a third in the second-half but Cavan sub Martin Dunne, who scored five points from the bench, helped his team win 0-16 to 3-5.

The meeting of Antrim and Queen’s was also a dead rubber, Liam Bradley’s team winning 2-12 to 1-14.