Mayo - 1-11 Down - 0-12:Mayo sharp-shooter Conor Mortimer wrought havoc on an inexperienced Down defence as he inspired the westerners to an impressive victory in perfect conditions at Newcastle yesterday.

The open, ball-playing approach favoured by both teams suited the elusive Mayo corner forward perfectly, as he hit six points of his side's total.

Mortimer had four of these points in the opening 20 minutes as the home side struggled to get the measure of the skilful and shrewd Mayomen, who were urged on by midfielder David Heaney to an 0-5 to 0-1 lead.

But when Gregory McCartan and Dan Gordon began to move the ball up to a light but lively Down attack the game changed. Points by Michael Walsh, Patrick Pearse McCartan, Benny Coulter and Ronan Murtagh closed the gap to 0-5 to 0-6 by half-time. And as long as the ball was coming through to the forward line Down looked fully capable of winning this game against all the predictions.

Points by Patrick Pearse McCartan, Walsh and Aidan O'Prey pushed Down into a 0-8 to 0-6 lead 10 minutes into the second half. Then events turned in Mayo's favour.

First there was a fortunate escape when Shane Ward rapped a shot off the base of the upright at the end of a scintillating move that had opened the Mayo cover.

Then the loss through injury of sturdy full back Alan Molloy fatally unbalanced the Down defence and Mayo substitute Ger Brady muscled through for the only goal of the game in the 50th minute.

Walsh had the sides level once more midway through the half and there was only a point between them with less than 10 minutes to go. But the dismissal of midfielder Gregory McCartan seemed to disrupt Down more than that of Fergal Kelly impacted on the men from the west.

Peter Burke saved superbly at the feet of Walsh and the crucial scores fell to Declan Sweeney and Fergal Costello as Mayo raided with enterprise in the closing minutes. Peter Burke, Brendan Prendergast, Fergal Costello, Heaney, and Stephen Carolan all contributed handsomely to victory.

The displays of Daniel McCartan, Martin Cole, John Clarke, Walsh, Murtagh and Patrick Pearse McCartan were enough to keep new Down manager Paddy O'Rourke hopeful that better days are ahead.

DOWN: McVeigh; D McCartan, A Molloy, M Cole; J Clarke, Seán Ward, D Rooney; D Gordon, G McCartan; P P McCartan (0-3), M Walsh (0-4), A O'Prey (0-1); R Murtagh (0-1), B Coulter (0-1), Shane Ward (0-1). Subs: L Doyle for A Molloy, S King (0-1) for Shane Ward.

MAYO: P Burke; K Mortimer, P Kelly, R Connolly; B Burke, B Prendergast, F Costello (0-1); D Heaney, R Brennan; S Carolan (0-1), D Sweeney (0-2), S Grimes; C Mortimer (0-6), A Moran, M Horan (0-1). Subs: G Grady (1-0) for A Moran, F Kelly for R Brennan, A Roche for B Burke. R Moran for F Costello.

Referee: P O'Reilly (Longford).