Down - 1-16, Waterford - 0-7

Down seldom had to move out of second gear to brush aside Waterford's challenge at Newry yesterday.

Down seldom had to move out of second gear to brush aside Waterford's challenge at Newry yesterday.

Manager Peter McGrath named five newcomers in his starting line-up and they responded by racing to a 0-8 to 0-1 half-time lead.

The second half was little different and a Michael Walsh goal and a string of unanswered points from Patrick Bradley and Conor Daly saw them run out convincing winners.

DOWN: P Travers; K McGrath, C Byrne, B Grant; M McMurray, B Kearney (0-1), J Lavery; A Molloy (0-1), L Doyle (0-2); P McCartan, M Walsh (1-0), C Daly (0-5); P Bradley (0-4), A O'Prey (0-1), R Murtagh (0-2). Subs. M McGill for Kearney; J Fagan for O'Prey; M Doran for Walsh; K Murphy for Bradley, K O'Hare for McMurray (all 60 mins.).

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WATERFORD: P Houlihan; I Walsh, J Phelan, M Byrne; L Dalton, D Ryan, S Briggs; G Hurney (0-3), D Kiely; D Kelleher, G Walsh, M Radley; E Doherty (0-1), K Walsh (0-1), F Halpin (0-2). Subs. P Power for Kelleher (36 mins), M O'Brien for Radley (36 mins), A Ryan for K Walsh (59 mins).

Referee: P McCann (Westmeath).