SECTION B: With names like Martin McGrath, Niall Bogue, Kevin McGourty and Gerard O'Kane aboard, Queens actually had more of a county team look about them than the inexperienced home selection, which featured just three survivors from last summer's championship for yesterday's tie at Newcastle.
The only real surprise about this outcome was how late the students left it - Down were leading 0-6 to 0-2 with just 10 minutes remaining before Queens eked out victory.
Down's fate was decided in the first half when they could only build a 0-4 to 0-2 lead with a strong wind, and needed two good saves from Brendan McVeigh to do so.
There will be some consolation for Paddy O'Rourke - the man most responsible for putting Down to the sword, Aidan Carr, is a member of O'Rourke's under-21 panel.
Carr struck five elegant points in demanding conditions, including three in Queens' late, winning surge.
QUEENS: R O'Neill; K Gunn, G O'Kane, J Turley; C O'Brien, M McGrath; B Mallon (0-1), A Carr (0-5), M O'Rourke, J McGovern (0-1), K McGourty (0-1), P Turley; Subs: C Moran for M O'Rourke; J Haughey for J.Turley; D Tierney for P.Turley.
DOWN: B McVeigh; G Barry, A Kane, A Rice (0-1); B Grant, S O'Hanlon, A Brannigan; C McCrickard, A Scullion; A Rodgers, S Kearney (0-1), F McGreevey (0-2); P Murphy, A O'Prey, A Fegan (0-3); Sub: L Doyle for A O'Prey.
Referee: R O Duain (Antrim)
