Down progressed to the last four in Ulster with a workmanlike 1-18 to 0-14 victory over 14-man Antrim at Pairc Esler.

Eamonn Burns' men will face either Donegal or Derry next month for a place in the Anglo-Celt Cup decider, while the Saffrons will be in Monday morning's first-round Qualifier draw.

The damage was done by the interval as Down led by 1-9 to 0-5, Kevin McKernan closing the first-half scoring with the game's opening goal followng a poor Antrim kick-out. Matthew Fitzpatrick and Patrick McBride landed the first two points for the visitors but Caolan Mooney, Donal O'Hare (free) and Shay Millar edged the Mourne men ahead before McBride made it three apiece after 16 minutes.

With 5,500 looking on, O'Hare, McKernan, Millar and Benny McArdle registered four without reply for last year's beaten Ulster finalists and O'Hare's third point (free) left it double scores ten minutes from the break, 0-8 to 0-4.

When McBride hit back, Connaire Harrison pointed and McKernan - who was subsequently black-carded - found the net to put the game out of the Saffrons' reach.

McBride and Anthony Doherty exchanged frees when the action resumed and O'Hare's next score was cancelled out by Ryan Murray, leaving it double scores after 42 minutes, 1-11 to 0-7. O'Hare swung over a free on 45 minutes and followed up a Conor Maginn effort as the hosts powered towards the winning line.

Despite another Murray strike, Down led by nine points after 50 minutes, 1-14 to 0-8. Sean Dornan and Murray swapped points before Colum Duffin pulled back an Antrim consolation twelve minutes from the end.

The Saffrons' woes were compounded by the dismissal of Ricky Johnston but they still managed to get the next point, through McBride. The underdogs kept battling but Down prevailed by seven points in the end, Dornan and Doherty ('45') tagging on the last two scores.

Down - M Reid; C Flanagan, B McArdle (0-1), A Doherty (0-3f); D O'Hagan, N McParland, C Mooney (0-1); P Turley, N Donnelly; K McKernan (1-1), C Maginn, S Millar (0-2); D O'Hare (0-7, 5f), C Harrison (0-1), R Millar. Subs: S Dornan (0-2) for K McKernan (BC), J Flynn for R Millar, D McKibbin for C Mooney, R McAleenan for C Flanagan, C McGrady for C Harrison, N Madine for D O'Hare.

Antrim - C Kerr; P Healy, P Gallagher, N Delargy; K O'Boyle, R Johnston, J Laverty; P McAleer, N McKeever; M Sweeney, C Murray (0-4, 1f), R McCann; R Murray (0-2, 1f), M Fitzpatrick (0-1), P McBride (0-4, 2f). Subs: C Duffin (0-1) for P Gallagher, S Beatty for N McKeever, K Healy (0-2) for R McCann, D Lynch for J Laverty, O Eastwood for P McAleer, M McCarry for P Healy.

Referee - D O'Mahony.

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