Down overcame Antrim in a high-scoring Ulster U20 FC quarter-final clash in Pairc Esler this evening.

Played as the curtain-raiser to the senior encounter between the two counties, the Mourne County prevailed by 4-15 to 3-13.

Antrim's Kevin Small scored the first of the game's seven goals in but that was soon cancelled out by Conor McCrickard before an Owen McCabe three pointer placed Conor Deegan's side in the driving seat.

The hosts went in at the break with a 2-8 to 2-6 lead and the second-half followed a similar pattern with scores aplenty at either end of the pitch.

Liam Quinn netted the Saffrons' third goal but Down dug deep and were rewarded with a five-point winning margin.

Down - D Ross; B Gallen, F McIlroy, A Lynch; C Cox, O McConvey, S Annett; L Middleton, J Connery (0-2); O McCabe (1-2), P Laverty (1-1), D Guinness (0-4); A Devlin (0-1), C McCrickard (2-2), G McKibben (0-1). Subs: J McCartan for J Connery, L Kerr (0-2) for A Devlin, R Martin for B Gallen, R Fegan for O McCabe, C Gorman for G McKibben.

Antrim - C Walsh; M Hamill, S Kelly, A Mulholland; E McCabe (0-1), D McCormick, P McCormick; J Smith (0-2), D Smith (0-1); E Nagle, T McAteer (0-1), D McErlain (0-1); K Small (1-3, 0-3f), E Fyffe (1-2, 1-0pen), L Quinn (1-2, 0-2f). Subs: M McNamee for M Hamill, P Finnegan for S Kelly, M Hagan for J Smith, R Kelly for K Small, D Smith for D McErlain.

Referee - M Farrelly.

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