Hughes snatches Down victory over Antrim once again

For the second time in four weeks, Donal Hughes was Down's hero against Antrim, finding an injury-time goal to snatch a 1-22 to 0-23 win in the opening round of the Joe McDonagh cup in Dunloy.

Hughes hit a last-gasp goal when the sides met in Newry in March, but it was not enough to save their Division 1B status as Antrim survived the drop on scoring difference.

This time, the Saffrons had a couple of minutes to turn it around, but Ronan Sheehan's side held firm to claim a famous win and get their championship campaign off to a flying start.

Down won the toss and opted to play into a strong wind, backing themselves to remain in touch by the half.

They did just that with Caolan Taggart a rock at centre-back, battling, scrapping and turning over possession as Ronan Sheehan's men brought a huge appetite for hard work.

Antrim didn't help themselves in the opening half, converting just 12 of 23 shots - two of the wides hotly disputed by the home support - but just couldn't get a full grip on the game.

Seaan Elliott was on form from early frees, his and his team's first from play coming in the 15th minute, as Down kept in touch with Tom McGrattan and Daithi Sands complimenting the free-taking of Pearse Og McCrickard.

By the break, Antrim did have a 0-12 to 0-8 lead with seven different scorers including all four of the Dunloy contingent who registered on their home path, but there was a sense Down would have been relatively happy at the turnaround.

Like the first half, Tom McGrattan was first on the board for Down in the second with James McNaughton hitting back and that set the tone for the majority of the second period as the sides went score for score on nine occasions.

Just as it seemed Antrim were managing the game out, Marc Fisher broke the sequence when following up from McGrattan's fourth of the day and while Seaan Elliott hit back with his 10th of the afternoon - nine from frees - Down finished well, rattling off the next three with Owen McDermott's point added to by two McCrickard frees to bring his tally to eight.

When Antrim substitute Jack McCloskey nudged the hots ahead in added time, the subsequent poc-out was plucked from the sky by Cahal Coleman who popped outside to Hughes to finish low.

There was still some time for Antrim and they had appeals for a black card penalty waved away when McNaughton was hauled down outside the area and Gerard Walsh's well-struck 20 metre free was saved out for a 65.

Antrim sent a couple of balls in as the searched for the winner, but Down held out for a second win over the neighbours in succession.