Down 1-5 St Mary's 0-8:DOWN LIMPED into the semi-finals of the Dr McKenna Cup after an uninspiring draw at Páirc Esler.

The Mourne county fielded a largely inexperienced side, but James McCartan’s experiment backfired as his team were only able to muster a solitary point in the entire second half. Their tally of 19 wides highlighted just how wasteful Down were in front of goal.

It was a happy return for former Down trainer Paddy Tally to his old stomping ground as his St Mary’s side sealed a merited draw late in the day with an injury-time free from former Down player Ronan Sexton.

Despite some poor shooting, Down held a 1-4 to 0-3 lead at the break thanks to a goal late in the half created by Eoin McCartan and finished by Kalum King.

St Mary’s enjoyed more possession as the game wore on and scores from Benny Herron and Declan McCusker meant that they were still in touch going into the latter stages and, when Sexton pointed at the death, it was little more than St Mary’s deserved.

Down though are through to the semi-final and, on the back of this performance, it is likely that some more familiar faces will be drafted back into the team for that fixture.

DOWN: B McVeigh; N Branigan, L Doyle, K Anderson; N McParland (0-1), M Doran, D McKibbon; A Rodgers, D O’Higgins; K King (1-0), M Poland, J McAreavey; C Brannigan (0-2), A McConville (0-1), E McCartan (0-1). Subs: C Gough for A Rodgers (39 mins); A Branigan for L Doyle (44 mins); M Miskelly for J McAreavey (50 mins); R Brady for E McCartan (50 mins); A Carr for A McConville (64 mins).

ST MARY’S: R McAnenly; R Lynch, D McBride, S Mullan; C O’Hara, N Sludden, S McKenna; N Donnelly, B Doyle; D McCusker (0-2), R Sexton (0-2, frees), R O’Callaghan; B Herron (0-2), J Gilmore, E Bradley (0-2, 1f). Subs: C McMahon for R OCallaghan (45 mins); T Canavan for J Gilmore (57 mins); M Slane for R Lynch (64 mins).

Referee: F Cleary (Fermanagh).