Conor Laverty's Down outgun Waterford despite slow start

On paper it should have been an easy match-up for Down on home turf against Waterford who are second from bottom in the lowest league tier.

But the team who almost made it out of Division 3 this season under new manager Conor Laverty, made hard work of their Tailteann Cup opener in Páirc Esler on Saturday evening.

Nonetheless, they came good in the second half and ran out comfortable 2-14 to 1-06 winners in the end.

Laverty rang the changes since Down's 4-10 to 0-12 defeat to Armagh in the Ulster Championship semi-final two weeks ago. The manager had said he was releasing his players to their clubs and he stuck to his guns. The Down changes included championship debut starts for Conor Fitzpatrick, Finn McElroy and Ross Carr and goalkeeper Charlie Smyth replacing Kilcoo netminder Niall Kane who shipped four goals against Armagh.

Waterford also played Aaron Beresford in nets in place of Paudie Hunt who started in their 3-09 to 1-11 defeat to Tipperary in the Munster Championship quarter-final but otherwise mangers Peter Leahy and Frank Ryan named the same team.

It took an age for this match to heat up and even when it did after the opening Waterford goal on 19 minutes, it remained tepid at best.

Before that there were tit-for-tat points between Jason Curry for Waterford and Pat Havern for Down - all four from the dead ball. The latter opened the scoring with a mark in the first minute and the Saval man kept his scoring boots on with two other terrific first half points from play.

Conor Murray burst forward for the opening goal for the visitors chased half-heartedly by Ross Carr, before slamming into the net.

Five minutes later Down responded in kind, when a well-worked team move ended with Eugene Branagan delivering to Eamon Brown