Derry booked their place in the final when beating Down by 0-11 to 0-9 at The Athletic Grounds.

The holders marched on by virtue of a strong second-half showing after the sides had used the first half as a sparring session.

Down led by 0-4 to 0-3 at the end of low-scoring opening 35.

After 15 minutes, the Oak Leaf County led by 0-2 to 0-1 thanks to scores from Paddy Bradley (free) and Conleith Gilligan.

Aidan Carr (two frees) and Dan Gordon had the Mourne men in front before a disagreement broke out on the sideline between the two managers, John Brennan and James McCartan, much to the obvious amusement of the packed stand.

Carr made it double scores in favour of the losers and Gilligan closed the first-half scoring.

Upon the resumption, the victors took over with points from Mark Lynch, Gilligan (0-2) and Caolan O'Boyle but Carr's fifth point stopped their run of five-in-a-row, leaving a point in it, 0-7 to 0-6.

Gilligan, Gerard O'Kane, Bradley and Barry McGoldrick notched further scores for the confident Derry men and Mourne County boss McCartan was left frustrated when Kalum King picked up a straight red card just before the final whistle. Tweet

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