Down kept things to script in Newry this evening by recording a 1-27 to 0-16 win against Leitrim in their Tailteann Cup opener.

Having exited the Ulster championship off the back of a crushing defeat to neighbours Armagh two weeks ago, Conor Laverty’s side got back on track with an efficient display against their Connacht counterparts here that saw them registering their 1-27 tally from 33 shots on goal.

Two-pointers from Pat Havern and Ronan Burns (free) helped the hosts get out to a 0-10 to 0-3 inside the opening 20 minutes, with a couple of Killian Gaffney frees and points from Paul Honeyman and Fergal McLoughlin reducing Leitrim’s arrears to four (0-12 to 0-8) by half-time.

Down sent over the first four scores of the second-half, including a Daniel Guinness two-pointer, without reply and kicked on with points from Ruairi McCormack, Havern and Ceilum Doherty prior to McCormack sailing over one from beyond the arc.

Mark Diffley and Tom Plunkett raised white flags to try and stop the rot for Steven Poacher’s men, but they’d concede the game’s only goal shortly after which saw McCormack providing the cool finish.

From there, the points of Seamus Loughran and Eamon Brown (2) rounded off the Mourne men’s tally as they now get set to visit Offaly in Round 2A next weekend, while Leitrim host Carlow in Round 2B.

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