While it wasn't where they wanted to be, Down got their Tailteann Cup off to a winning start with a comprehensive 14-point victory over Leitrim at Páirc Esler.
Conor Laverty's side were targeting Sam Maguire football this year, and a Division 3 final win seemed to all but secure it, but Westmeath’s run to the Leinster final coupled with an Ulster semi-final trimming at the hands of Armagh meant it wasn’t to be.
Still, this was an expected win from a side who were promoted to Division 2 against Division 4 opposition, the hosts swatting away any suggestions that they might struggle in the aftermath of that defeat to their neighbours.
The win secures a Round 2 clash away to Offaly while Leitrim will host Carlow.
Leitrim were crippled with injuries including Cillian McGloin and Barry McNulty, who broke his foot in their Galway loss in Connacht, but they were no match for Down despite hanging tough in the first half.
The Mournemen led 0-12 to 0-08 at the break but that somewhat flattered Leitrim. The home side seemed to be in control of the game but a couple of two-pointers kept the visitors - managed by Down man Steven Poacher - in the hunt.
Tom Close, who started in place of Adam Crimmins, opened the scoring for Down with a point in the second minute before Leitrim goalkeeper Killian Gaffey replied with a two-point free.
Down edged back in front early on through a pair of Ceilum Doherty scores, Laverty’s men leading 0-03 to 0-02.
Miceal Rooney increased their lead in the ninth minute following a lovely pass from Close and while Ryan O'Rourke kept Leitrim in touch with the next point, Down pulled away with two points from Pat Havern, the second a two-pointer, one from Odhhran Murdock and another orange flag raised by goalkeeper Ronan Burns from a free after a Leitrim breach.
That made it 0-10 to 0-03 midway through the half, but the visitors recovered somewhat in the second quarter.
Paul Honeyman pointed on 22 minutes and while Gaffey had a chance to narrow the margin further with a free from outside the arc, Murdock scooped the ball from under the crossbar to deny him. It went out for a '45 however and Gaffey converted to make it 0-10 to 0-05.
Points from Rooney and Havern increased Down's lead again but Fergal McLoughlin nabbed the next and Gaffey raised another orange flag from a free as the hooter blew with Down 0-12 to 0-08 ahead.
Leitrim had a chance to make it a two-point game after the restart but Gaffey missed the free while Daniel Guinness made no mistake with an outrageous two-pointer from play, and the same player tagged on a point seconds later.
Rooney added another to stretch Down's lead further and a superb run through the middle ended with another Guinness score to make it 0-17 to 0-08.
Leitrim's Honeyman stopped the rot with a lovely finish and traded points followed.
The Down bench then made their presence felt with six of the next eight scores as the home side moved 0-24 to 0-13 ahead.
There was no doubt about the winners at that stage, even more after 61 minutes when Down substitute Ruairi McCormack, who had pointed with his first touch after being subbed on, grabbed the only goal of the game.
Two other Mourne subs, Seamus Loughran and Eamon Brown, also got their names on the scoresheet and despite a few points at the finish for Leitrim, Down ran out comfortable 1-27 to 0-16 winners.
Down: R Burns (0-02,1tpf); P Fegan, P Laverty, F McElroy; C Rogers, P McPolin, R Magill; O Murdock (0-01), D Guinness (0-04, 1tp); S Annett, C Doherty (0-03), M Rooney (0-03); G McKibben, P Havern (0-05, 1tp, 1f), T Close (0-02).
Subs: E Brown (0-03) for McKibben (47), R McCormack (1-03, 1tp) for Annett (51), S Loughran (0-10) for Havern (53), O Cunningham for Magill (59).
Leitrim: K Gaffey (0-05, 2tpf, 1'45); E McNamara, C Reynolds, S Harkin; E McLoughlin, M Diffley (0-01), K Keegan; C Quinn, K Clancy; F McLoughlin (0-02), B Guckion (0-02, 1f), Riordan O'Rourke; P Honeyman (0-03), Ryan O'Rourke, O McLoughlin (0-02, 1tp).
Subs: A Oberwan for Harkin (51), J Kelly (0-01) for O McLoughlin (51), J Rooney for McNamara (57), T Plunkett (0-01) for Honeyman (59), C McLoughlin for Clancy (59).
Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway).
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