Down get off to a winning start

Down 3-20 Armagh 1-11, Newry

Goals were key as Christy Ring Cup champions Down got their Ulster SHC campaign off to a winning start, following a 15-point win over neighbours Armagh at Pairc Esler today.

Down boss Gerard Monan may have been without a couple of that winning line-up through retirements and players gone abroad, but the Mourne men still played with great gusto with eight players on target.

James Coyle led by example with 1-3, including the hosts' first goal early on which helped his side to a 1-5 to 0-3 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Danny Toner, Gareth Johnson, Paul Braniff and Donal Hughes all claimed valuable scores as Down moved five points clear.

Armagh kept in touch thanks to the efforts of Declan Coulter who landed five first half points, while John Corvan bagged an excellent goal for the Orchard side.

However, the 24-year-old Scott Nicholson netted before the interval to ensure a 2-8 to 1-7 interval lead for the hosts.

Down found an extra gear on the restart, with the visitors held to just four second half points with Coulter taking three of those scores.

Donal Hughes, Conor Woods, Paul Sheehan and Johnny McCusker added some brilliant points in the closing 35 minutes, with a late McCusker goal putting the seal on the result.

Scorers - Down: James Coyle 1-3, Johnny McCusker 1-1, Donal Hughes, Paul Braniff, Paul Sheehan 0-4 each, Scott Nicholson 1-0, Danny Toner 0-2, C Woods, G Johnson 0-1 each

Armagh: D Coulter 0-8, J Corvan 1-0, D Carvill 0-2, C Carville 0-1 each