Down scored a 12-point win over Antrim at Casement Park on Saturday evening, as the The Mournemen advanced to Round Four of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers.
The match-up proved to be a tight affair, with Antrim briefly edging ahead in the second period, but Down then hit top gear to battle beyond their fellow Ulstermen, recording a 3-13 to 0-10 win.
Despite taking 17 minutes to register their first score, The Saffrons trailed by just a point at the interval, with Paddy Cunningham, Kevin Niblock and Brendan Herron having all played starring roles for the underdogs in the opening period.
Herron levelled early in the second half, before Gerard O’Boyle put Antrim in the lead for the first time.
However, after Marty Clarke had restored parity, Conor Laverty produced a superb run on his way to hitting the net for Down.
The Mournemen added another score before Clarke stuck away their second goal, and teenager Caolan Mooney tagged on another three-pointer with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Down, who closed out the victory with ease as Clarke added scores to his points tally in the closing stages, will go on to meet Cork in a repeat of last year's All-Ireland final.