Derry: 2-15 - Gary Biggs 0-10; Collins 1-2; K McKeever 1-0; O'Dwyer 0-3.

Down: 0-8 - McGrattan 0-4; Byers, P Brannif, Gordon, Savage 0-1 each

Referee: Pat Ahearn (Carlow).

Bookings: Derry - Murray (2nd), Niall Mullan (47), O'Dwyer (52); Down - Byers (36), Clarke (45); Sendings off: Derry - Emmet McKeever (27), Down - Sands (27), Byers (50).

Down suffered their third successive championship semi-final dismissal to a physically imposing Derry side which could afford to field football All Star defender, Sean Marty Lockhart for the last six minutes of a game that disintegrated after the 50th-minute sending off of Donal Byers for a second booking.

Carlow referee, Pat Ahearne, had already dismissed Noel Sands (Down) and Emmet McKeever (Derry) in the 27th minute for an off-the-ball incident which was spotted by the linesman.

Derry led by 0-9 to 0-6 at the break with six of their scores coming from Gary Biggs frees. A clearly disappointed Down manager, Jimmy O'Reilly, claimed afterwards that the referee was "clinically ruthless in awarding frees against Down", although he did accept that Derry deserved their victory.

However, in truth, Derry were sharper and faster than Down, particularly in attack where John O'Dwyer and Michael Collins always had the legs on veterans Martin Mallon and Kevin Coulter. Collins had been involved in pre-match speculation that he would be making way at full forward for Geoffrey McGonigle, who had been exonerated by his county board on Thursday night of verbally abusing a referee during a club championship football game.

However, a communique from Croke Park, received on Saturday, stated that McGonigle would have to serve the stipulated two months suspension.

That Derry won the game so comprehensively without either McGonigle or Oliver Collins must surely worry their opponents in the final, Antrim, in three weeks time.

They were tough and strong in defence with Colm McEldowney a real find at centre half and early substitute Niall Mullan surely playing himself into the starting line-up for the final. Dual player Kieran McKeever led the forward line and deserved his 63rd-minute goal which finally closed the door on Down. Collins finished with a goal for the last score of the game.