Backboned by their 2005 All-Ireland minor winners, Down under 21s chalked up an impressive victory over Antrim in a one-sided Cadbury's Ulster football championship clash at Pairc Esler on Wednesday night. Down...1-17 Antrim...0-8 After a sluggish start, Pete McGrath's highly-rated charges settled down to play some good football and points from Paul McComiskey (three), Cathal Magee, Tony Brannigan and Conor Garvey eased them into a 0-7 to 0-1 lead. The game was effectively ended as a contest late in the first half when full forward Ryan Kelly capitalised on a handling error by Antrim full back Darren Harbinson and finished to the net to give the winners a 1-8 to 0-1 interval lead. Antrim resumed with three points in quick succession, but it didn't take long for Down to regain the upper hand and nine points from the impressive McComiskey, four from frees, ensured a comfortable victory and a semi-final date with Tyrone. Down - M. McAllister; M. Digney, C. Murney, H. Magee; C. Garvey 0-1, K. Duffin, T. Hanna; James Colgan capt., K. McKernan 0-1; C. Maginn, C. Magee 0-3, E. Toner; T. Brannigan 0-2, Ryan Kelly 1-0, Paul McComiskey 0-9, four frees. Subs - J. Murphy for Garvey; J. O'Reilly for Toner; D. Lavery for Branigan and J. Caldwell for McKernan. Antrim - B. Marron; D. Harbinson, K. Garland, K. O'Boyle; E. Gill, J. Crozier capt. G. Crossey; S. McCloskey, S. Burke 0-1; B. Hassan 0-5, T. McCann, N. McKeever; C. Murray, C. J. McGourty 0-2, G. McAleese. Subs - K. Marron for McAleese; P. Maguire for E. Gill. Referee - D. McQuillan (Monaghan). Tweet

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