Down 2-17 Derry 1-15 Fourteen-man Down advanced to an Ulster SHC final date with Antrim following a hard-fought victory over Derry on Sunday afternoon. The Ardsmen had half forward Simon Wilson dismissed for a second bookable offence before half-time, while defender Gabriel Clarke was forced off with a potentially serious injury. Despite that double blow, they kept their noses in front until the final whistle in the face of a spirited second half resistance from Derry. James Coyle goaled early on to give Down the edge and with Wilson in fine scoring form from placed balls, they built up a five-point interval lead (1-10 to 0-8). With Wilson departed, Paul Braniff took over the scoring burden with six points, while a goal from Gareth "Magic" Johnson early in the second half ultimately proved decisive as they held Derry at arm's length. The Oak Leaf men never threw in the towel, with Ruairi Convery finding the net as they ate into the Down lead. The margin was reduced to two points on two separate occasions but Derry were never able to regain parity, and Down held on for a deserved victory. Down: Graham Clarke; Fintan Conway, Stephen Murray, Sean Ennis; Gabriel Clarke, Rory McGrattan, Michael Ennis; Conor Woods (0-4), Andy Savage; Simon Wilson (0-4), Paul Braniff (0-6), Kieran Courtney; James Coyle (1-1), Gareth Johnson (1-0), Eoin Clarke. Subs: Conor O'Prey for Gabriel Clarke (20 mins), Martin Coulter (0-1) for Eoin Clarke (47 mins), Kevin McGarry (0-1) for Coyle (50 mins), Emmet Trainor for Courtney (58 mins). Derry: Darryl McDermott; Ruari McCloskey, Sean McCullough, Sean McNicholl; Peter O'Kane, Stephen Henry, Mark Craig; Kevin Hinphey (0-1), Oisin McCloskey (0-2); Ben Dodds (0-1), Donal Leahy (0-1), Sam Dodds (0-6); Eugene McGuckin, Paddy McCloskey, Ruari Convery (1-2). Subs: Colm Murphy for McGuckin (35 mins), Conor Quinn (0-2) for Leahy (half-time), Michael Kirkpatrick for McCloskey (65). Referee: E. Morris (Dublin) Tweet

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