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Donegal were 1-13 to 1-12 winners over Down in Enniskillen while the Red Hands beat Fermanagh on a more emphatic 1-20 to 1-8 scoreline in Omagh.

Mourne County manager James McCartan suggested after his side's defeat that the hype surrounding Down's early season progress should now die down.

Down had been touted in some quarters as being Championship contenders particularly with the return from Australian Rules football of talisman Martin Clarke.

"This result should put an end to that sort of nonsense," he said.

"It was interesting that there weren't too many people (from the media) wanting to talk to me tonight."

Down could have been 2-2 to no score ahead after five minutes after Paul McComiskey's free sailed into the net as confusion reigned in the Donegal defence early on.

But wasted chances allowed John Joe Doherty's side to claw their way back into the game.

Donegal, inspired by the experienced Colm McFadden's deadly accuracy from frees and Edward Kelly's well taken soccer-style goal, trailed by just a single point at the break, 1-5 to 1-4.

They proceeded to score eight out of the first nine points of the second half and looked to have the game won.

But McCartan introduced several of his more experienced players in the latter stages of the game, including Clarke, Brendan Coulter, Ambrose Rodgers and Danny Hughes.

Those substitutions made a big difference and with six minutes remaining Down had cut the defecit to a just three points.

But late scores from Martin Clarke and his brother John weren't quite enough to force the game into extra time and Donegal held on to win by a point.

In a more one-sided encounter at Healy Park, Tyrone led Fermanagh 0-13 to 0-5 at half time helped by a personal tally of six points from Tommy McGuigan.

McGuigan added a penalty after the restart when the Erne County's consolation goal was scored by Damien Kelly.

© UTV News