Down’s hopes of winning promotion from Division Two of the National League remain firmly on course after this demolition of visitors Tyrone at Ballycran.
This was a disastrously one-sided victory which must call into question the benefit of games such as this. Down hit a total of 43 points and won by an eye-watering 30 points.
For Tyrone, the result here represents their worst ever in hurling, and their most extensive defeat since their last time in Division Two more than two decades ago
The Mournemen were never in any trouble in this tie. They were out of sight by the end of the first quarter and hit six goals to lead at half-time by 6-14 to 0-8.
Their class, strength and teamwork was all evident as the goals flowed in. Chris Egan, Pearse Og McCrickard with two, Liam Savage and Donal Hughes, and Tim Prenter all hit the net in that opening period.
The Red Hands worked hard to try and stem the tide. Aidan Kelly, Turlough Mullin and Ben Gormley all registered scores for them, but they were always struggling.
Down continued to completely dominate on the resumption as well. Michael Dorrian and Tim Prenter both hit goals to leave them 7-19 to 0-9 ahead approaching the closing stages.
Mickey Little hit a couple of fine points to boost the Tyrone total and a number of their players did produce impressive enough performances. Little was best for them, and Lorcan Devlin, Cormac Munroe and Aidan Kelly also impressed.
But by the end of the game they’d conceded nine goals as Donal Hughes and Matt Conlon hit the net to ensure an impressive total.
Scorers, Down: P Og McCrickard 2-9 6f, D Hughes 2-2, C Egan 1-2, P Sheehan 0-4 1f, M Dorrian 1-1, T Prenter 2-2 1f, L Savage 1-0, M Fisher 0-2 1f, C Taggart 0-1, B Trainor 0-1.
Tyrone: M Little 0-4,1f, A Kelly 0-3 3f, T Mullin 0-1, B Gormley 0-1, K Morgan 0-1, L Devlin 0-1, C Magill 0-1.
DOWN: St Keith, M Conlon, Tom Murray, Gerard Hughes, N McFarland, L Savage, Caolan Taggart, D Hughes, P Savage, C Egan, P Sheehan, E Sands, T Prenter, R Beatty, P Og McCrickard.
Subs: G Hughes for P Savage, M Dorrian for R Beatty, Marc Fisher for E Sands, C Lavery for S Keith.
TYRONE: C McElhatton, T Morgan, F Devlin, M Coyle, L Devlin, C Munroe, B Gormley, C Bell, T Mullin, K Morgan, A Kelly, C Magill, M Little, B Molloy, A Woods.
Subs: M McCann for T Mullin, F Hurson for M Coyle.
Referee: C O’Regan (Cork)