Down moved within one win of a Dr. McKenna Cup semi-final after cruising to an emphatic 5-14 to 0-13 win over an experimental Donegal at Newry. Three goals in the first half and two more in the second sealed Down's win and served to propel the Tir Chonaill men out of the competition. A blistering start by the home side saw them lead by 0-4 to 0-1 after just ten minutes of play. Things got even better for Down thereafter with Jack Lynch running straight through a stationery Donegal defence to smack the ball into the net. Down's second goal was scored by debutant John McAveavey and so was the third after being set up in each instance by Ronan Sexton. Donegal only threatened Down's goal intermittently but a string of points from the accurate Kevin McMenamin and substitute Colm McFadden did help them cut the deficit to 0-7 to 3-7 at half-time. Down were reduced to 14 men four minutes after the restart with McKernan getting his second yellow card, and scores from McFadden and Ryan Bradley had Donegal within seven points. However, points from McAveavey, Lynch, Daniel Hughes and Sexton consolidated Down's healthy advantage. Donegal's inexperience was showing at that stage with Bradley (who notched five second half frees) keeping them ticking over. The hosts finished with a flourish and late goals from Packie Downey and Daniel Hughes added salt into Donegal's gaping wound. Down - B Connell, C McGovern, G McArdle, M Cole, C Murney, L Doyle, K McGuigan, D Gordan 0-1, J Lynch 1-2, J Fegan 0-1, K McKernan 0-1, D Hughes 1-4, J McAreavey 2-3, C Magee 0-1, R Sexton 0-1. Subs - R Murtagh for Doyle, P Downey 1-0 for C Magee, P Turley for Lynch, J Clarke for J McAreavey, D O'Hanlon for Cole. Donegal - M Boyle, M Maguire, M McGee, M McGowan, C Byrne, E Magee, S McGowan, J Freil, K Cassidy, D Waslh, F MgGlynn, O Doherty, Kevin McMenamin 0-5, R Bradley 0-5, J McLoone. Subs - S McHugh for Byrne, C McFadden 0-2 for M Maguire, K Rafferty for Freil, D Langan for O Doherty, D Boyle for McMenamin. Tweet

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