Gavin Ringland produced a brilliant display in goal for Down during this Junior 6 tie last weekend.

The visitors, who again included a number of their young prospects in the starting line-up, played reasonably well and there is certainly hope for the future.

Ringland's heroics kept South Antrim at bay and the game was scoreless with just 10 minutes of the half remaining. But the home side's pressure eventually told and they went 1-0 ahead in the 26th minute.

South Antrim then made it 2-0 before the break, but Down were unlucky not to go in at the break just one goal arrears after a great reverse stick shot from Mark Graham crashed against the base of the post and rebounded to safety.

South Antrim turned up the heat at the start of the second period and made it 3-0 before Graham did pull a goal back when he was teed up by McCready.

Down tried to salvage something from the game but the two-goal deficit was too big a mountain to climd. However, the game gave the young players more game time which is vitally important.

This Saturday Down seconds are at home to Civil Service sixths.