Down got up and running in the All-Ireland senior football championship’s group stage by handing Clare an emphatic 3-27 to 1-16 defeat in Ennis this afternoon.

Conor Laverty’s side ran up a 1-7 to 0-2 lead after the opening quarter of an hour at Cusack Park and didn’t look back, with John McGeough fisting their goal six minutes in.

The Mourne men would be 1-12 to 0-5 to the good when Dan Guinness drove in their second goal in the 33rd minute and, although Clare would get a goal back through Aaron Griffin, the scoreboard made grim reading for them at half-time (2-17 to 1-6).

Caolan Mooney added Down’s third goal in 56th minute and points from Pat Havern (2) and Adam Crimmins rounded off their 17-point win.

The result sees Laverty’s charges laying down an early marker in a group which also contains provincial rivals Monaghan and newly crowned Leinster champions Louth.

The #SamMaguireCup Group 3 Table after today's Round 1 game.

Clare 1-16 v 3-27 Down #GAA #SFC #GAALeagueTables pic.twitter.com/GuRsjGVbTx

— GAA League Tables (@GAALeagueTables) May 18, 2025

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