Limerick were no match for Down as Conor Laverty's side made it two wins from two, continuing their quest to climb out of Division 3 of the Allianz Football League.
In contrast, Jimmy Lee’s Limerick are still in search of a result, having lost by seven points to Antrim in their first round fixture the previous week, and this was a performance that will concern the manager as his men were outclassed all over the field.
Mistakes proved costly too for Limerick, as ill-discipline gifted Down two penalties and the advantage of an extra man for 10 minutes when Colm Sweeney was black carded for the second.
Both of those were converted confidently by Down’s 20-year-old star player Odhran Murdock, with their other goal, also in the first half, provided by Daniel Guinness
Limerick got off to a promising start, scoring the first two points of the game with a terrific opener from Robbie Childs in the second minute and Peter Nash converting a free shortly after. Cillian Fahy almost slipped the ball into the net in the fifth minute, but Down keeper John O’Hare made the save and that seemed to wake Laverty’s players up to begin the the onslaught.
The first Down goal was a preventable one. With nine minutes on the clock Jonny Flynn was pulled back for a penalty and Murdock made no mistake, drilling into the roof of the net.
Ten minutes later, Down led 1-03 to 0-03 when Oisin Savage was through for a point cutting in from the left. He dropped the ball but recovered well, getting his pass away to Guinness, who slammed home a goal from the edge of the square.
Points from Murdock and a beauty from Liam Kerr gave Down a 2-05 to 0-03 advantage and on 23 minutes that lead increased by three with another green flag raised.
McSweeney was black carded for dragging Kerr back in the square and Murdock replicated his first penalty with a second in exactly same spot.
Down were 3-08 to 0-05 in front at the break and the writing was on the wall.
As in the first half, Limerick opened the scoring, with Nash sending a well-taken free between the sticks, but Pat Havern replied in kind and Kerr sent the home side into double digits with a point from play set up with a terrific delivery from Guinness.
The game slipped into a lull, with the competitive element gone, and the sizeable crowd began to trickle towards the exit midway through the half.
Limerick were held to just three more points, while Havern knocked over four more frees and a brace of points from Shealan Johnston and a beauty swung effortlessly over the bar from distance by Murdock, finished the scoring at 3-16 to 0-09.
There’s a break in the league next week, giving both sides time to recover before Down travel to Corrigan Park to take on Antrim in the third round on Sunday 18 February, while Limerick are at home to Sligo for their Sunday fixture.
Down: John O’Hare; Peter Fegan (0-01), Ryan McEvoy, Jonny Flynn; Pierce Laverty, Daniel Guinness (1-01) Conor Francis; Odhran Murdock (2-03, 2-00 pens), Niall McParland; Rory Mason, Liam Kerr (0-03, 01f), Shealan Johnston (0-02); Caolan Mooney, Pat Havern (0-05, all frees), Oisin Savage (0-01)
Subs: Shane Annett for Mooney (H-T), Anthony Doherty for McParland (45mins), Andrew Gilmore for Savage (45mins), Ger Collins for Francis (54mins, Kevin Anderson for O’Hare (56mins))
Limerick: Aaron O’Sullivan; Jim Liston, Séan O’Dea, Brian O’Sullivan; Colm McSweeney, Robbie Childs (0-01), Paul Maher; Tommy Childs, Tommy Griffin; Iain Corbett, Cathal Downes, Cillian Fahy (0-02); Barry Coleman, Eoin Hurley, Peter Nash (0-05, 4f)
Subs: Shane Costello (0-01) for Doherty (51mins), Joe Sweeney for Baynam (51mins), Andrew Meade for Hurley (57mins), Shane Doherty for Maher (59mins)
Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo)
