CHRISTY RING CUP SEMI-FINAL Down 4-21 Mayo 0-14: NO FEWER than four second-half goals helped Down claim victory in Newry on Saturday and qualify for the Christy Ring Cup decider.

Down led by a single point, 0-10 to 0-9, at the break, but hit 3-7 without reply after the restart, with Paul Braniff, James Coyle and Eoin Clarke claiming the goals.

The game was over as a contest long before Gareth Johnson added a fourth goal late on in the game.

DOWN: Graham Clarke; A Dynes, S Murray, S Ennis; F Conway, R McGrattan, M Ennis (0-1); A Savage, K Courtney; C Woods (0-2), P Braniff (1-2, 0-1 from free), S Wilson (0-7, three frees, one 65, one pen); J Coyle (1-3), G Johnson (1-5, 0-1 from free), E Clarke (1-1). Subs: C O'Prey for Dynes (22 mins); Gabriel Clarke for Ennis (43); M Coulter for Wilson (55); P Flynn for S Ennis (60); D Ennis for Graham Clarke (64).

MAYO: M Walsh; K McGrath, A Connolly, P Hunt; B Higgins, P Barrett, C Ryan; K Higgins (0-6, three frees, one pen), P Higgins; E Madigan (0-1), D McDonnell, D Dowling; A Freeman (0-6, four frees), D McConn (0-1), C Freeman. Subs: S Broderick for McDonnell (half-time); T Duffy for M Walsh (48 mins); M Devaney for C Freeman (49); C Hynes for Dowling, S Hoban for A Freeman (both 60).

Referee: A Stapleton(Laois).