Down beat Cavan in the Bank of Ireland All-Ireland Senior Football Championship opener at Casement Park this afternoon.
The Ulster SFC preliminary round fixture saw Down talisman Benny Coulter score a second half goal to ensure the Mourne men their victory by 1-13 to 0-11. It had been a close run thing for much of the game as both sides went into the break 0-6 apiece.
As on so many ocassions Coulter was the shining light for Down and when he flicked the ball over Cavan 'keeper James Reilly and found the net in the 56th minute they opened up a four point cushion.
Late in the game Dan Gordon was dismissed in the final minute after picking up his second yellow card. Down will now face Donegal at Ballybofey on Sunday June 4th.
Earlier in the day Mayo secured their first Cadbury's All-Ireland Under-21 Football final in over 20 years after they defeated Cork 1-13 to 1-11 at Cusack Park.
The tense affair saw Cork go into the break with a 0-7 to 0-4 lead but Aidan Kilcoyne came up with the ggods when required to ensure the Connacht champions prevailed. He scored 1-6 in all while Cork also had defender Stephen O'Donoghue sent-off in the 41st minute.
Mayo last won the title back in 1983.
The day's other action saw Antrim run out 2-16 to 1-14 winners agsint London in the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final.