Down book semi-final spot
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.
