Down march on

Down and Derry will contest an Ulster SHC semi-final after their respective quarter-final victories yesterday.

Down hammered Donegal 1-31 to 0-10 in Clones while Derry had a closer battle against Armagh, finally running out 4-16 to 3-13 winners at the Athletic Grounds.

Down held a slender 0-8 to 0-7 lead after 17 minutes but they scored an unanswered 1-8 in the second quarter to lead 1-16 to 0-7 at half-time.

Donegal failed to score for 35 minutes either side of the interval as Down took over, Ryan Brannigan hit the only goal in the 32nd minute.

Down tagged on the first five points of the second half before Donegal ended their scoring drought with a Ciaran Mathewson free on 53 minutes.

Mathewson top-scored for Donegal with five points, three from frees, but it was not enough against rampant Down.

At the Athletic Grounds, Derry scored the opening 1-3 in the first 15 minutes against Armagh and they kept their noses in front throughout the game.

Aaron Kelly and Johnny O’Dwyer were among the goalscorers for the Oak Leafers, who set up a semi-final with Down on June 29. The winners will face Antrim in the Ulster hurling final next month.