Down lose out to Mayo

Goals from Jason Doherty and Michael Conroy to one by Kalum King eased Mayo to a 2-7 to 1-4 half-time lead.

Conroy netted again early in the second period and continued to post regular scores to pile further misery on the Mournemen.

Benny Coulter scored a late goal but it was merely a consolation. Down passed up an early goal chance when Conor Laverty saw his shot repelled by David Clarke.

The Mournemen were made to pay for their wastefulness when Doherty sealed an excellent move by firing the ball left-footed into the net in the fifth minute.

Andy Moran tagged on a point, before Aidan Carr got Down off and running with a free.

Cillian O'Connor split the posts with a free and then Conor Garvey blocked Moran's goal-bound effort as Mayo continued to dominate the early exchanges.

Carr scored his opening point from play and then James McCartan's side scored a goal on 16 minutes to level proceedings.

Coulter and Laverty played their part in the build-up and Kalum King applied the finish, shooting home.

Alan Dillon squeezed Mayo ahead again, but Carr restored equality with his third score of the game.

O'Connor was frustrated by the woodwork soon after but Michael Conroy leapt on the rebound to score a point.

A Carr free brought the teams level once more, but O'Connor replied with a free for the Connacht champions.

Conroy took his golden chance well, slotting home a right-foot shot past Brendan McVeigh in the 27th minute for the third goal of an absorbing contest.

O'Connor punted over two more frees to increase his side's advantage to six points by half-time.

O'Connor continued his lethal form by scoring two points early in the second period, while substitute Liam Doyle scored a free for Down and Coulter also got his name on the score board.

Conroy gobbled up his second goal of the match in the 43rd minute to effectively seal Down's fate, by palming the ball into the net after Mayo took a quick free.

Carr scored two more frees as Down battled, but three points from Dillon , Lee Keegan, Aidan O'Shea, O'Connor, Enda Varley and two from Kevin McLaughlin kept Mayo in command.

Coulter's late goal in added time was scant consolation for the defeated Ulster Championship finalists.