The buldozers move into Pairc An Iuir this week to start the first phase of developing the Newry ground into a top-class GAA venue. On the evidence of this game, Pete McGrath faces at least as long a reconstruction task, as his side scrambled to an unimpressive victory over a weakened Clare side.

Clare had moved to a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after 10 minutes. But with the Ger Keane orchestrating things, Clare overtook them at 0-5 to 0-4 with a fine Dermot Russell point only for Gregory McCartan to put Down ahead in the the 28th minute with a goal. Then Keane took over again, scoring twice in injury time, and setting up another for Ciaran Considine to level the scores.

The game then became a battle of attrition, with just one point from play in the final 29 minutes.

Down: C Rice; D Flynn, S Ward, P McShane; F Caulfield, M Magill, S Poland; E Woods, G McCartan 1-4; P McCartan 0-1, S Mulholland 0- 3, G Deegan; M Linden, G Murdock 0-2, S Ward.

Subs: K Franklin for E Woods, A Cole for S Ward, P Higgins for P McCartan.

Clare: J Hanrahan; A Malone, N Hawes, E McGrann; B Keating, B Rouine, C Nagle; G Quinlan 0-1, D Russell 0-2; M Ledane, O O'Dwyer, D O'Driscoll; G Keane 0-5, C Considine 0-2, J Daly 0-1. Subs: P McMahon for M Ledane, J Enright for J Daly, P Cosgrave for G Quinlan

Referee: S Prior, Leitrim.