Down made a sensational return to the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg when brushing aside the challenge of hosts Clare in front of just 1,556.
Soaring to last year's Tailteann Cup honours, Conor Laverty’s side clearly carried that momentum to Ennis as they physically bullied the home side into submission long before the final whistle.
Indeed, with the aid of the conditions, the Ulster side effectively had the job done by half-time as timely goals from John McGeough and Daniel Guinness were accentuated by two-point braces for Pat Havern and Danny Magill to soar unassailably 2-17 to 1-06 clear by the break.
With nothing to lose, Clare did finally bounce off the ropes in the third quarter but a five-point blitz from Mark McInerney could only lessened the arrears to ten at 2-20 to 1-13 by the three-quarters mark.
That home rally only seemed to anger the visitors though as with eight minutes, Down had stretched the gap to 17, highlighted by a well-worked goal from substitute Caolan Mooney.
The goal of the game unquestionably came in the opening half though as after John McGeough had ignited Down’s challenge with a flicked major from close range in only the sixth minute, the visitors would complete the half with an even better strike.
It stemmed from a Clare error that was intercepted by midfielder Daniel Guinness to pick up possession in his own half and burst forward, playing a one-two with Odhran Murdock before striking to the left corner of Eamon Tubridy’s net at 2-13 to 0-05.
A motivated Clare did pull back an equally eye-catching goal a minute later when Brian McNamara, Eoin Cleary, Mark McInerney and Alan Sweeney combined to play in Aaron Griffin to finish. However, it would be cancelled out by Pat Havern’s three point haul including his 19th two-pointer of 2025 to ease 14 in front by half-time.
Despite the wind to come, there would be no reprieve of any real note for Peter Keane’s side who now face an arduous journey of their own to Monaghan in a fortnight’s time while Down have a potential group decider to come with neighbours Louth in Newry.
Down: Ronan Burns; Patrick McCarthy, Pierce Laverty, Ryan Magill; Miceal Rooney (0-01), Peter Fegan, Ceilum Doherty; Daniel Guinness (1-01), Danny Magill (0-07, 2tp); James Guinness (0-02), Odhran Murdock (0-02, 1f), Ryan McEvoy (0-01); John McGeough (1-01), Pat Havern (0-09, 1tp, 1tpf, 3f), Adam Crimmins (0-03)
Subs: Caolan Mooney (1-00) for Doherty (35+2, inj), Patrick Brooks for R. Magill (45), Shay Millar for McEvoy (54), Finn Murdock for J. Guinness (60), Conor McCrickard for McGeough (62), Donal Scullion for O. Murdock (67)
Clare: Eamon Tubridy; Ronan Lanigan, Cillian Brennan, Manus Doherty; Cillian Rouine, Ikem Ugwueru, Connor Meaney; Brian McNamara, Emmet McMahon (0-05, 1tp, 2f); Gavin Murray, Eoin Cleary (0-01), Dermot Coughlan (0-02); Mark McInerney (0-06, 1tp, 1f, 1’45), Keelan Sexton, Aaron Griffin (1-01)
Subs: Alan Sweeney for Brennan (15, inj), Daniel Walsh for Murray (35+2), Fionn Kelleher for Meaney (HT), Shane Griffin for McNamara (60, inj), Jamie Stack (0-01) for Cleary (63)
Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon)
