The weekend washout did not prevent this Senior One game from going ahead.

Originally scheduled to take place at the Comber Leisure Centre, it was switched to nearby Ards.

Down, who were due to face Armagh 24 hours later in the semi-final of the Linden Cup, were hoping the game would have been postponed as their cup opponents had the afternoon off when their game against Saintfield at the Demesne fell victim to the weather.

Down were keen not to pick up any injuries during the game can be forgiven for going through the motions at time as they certainly had one eye on the semi-final.

North Down dominated the game from start to finish and opened the scoring through Chris Spears in the 10th minute who drilled the ball past Mark Johnston.

But the floodgates did not open at this stage. Down were playing well but  conceded a second goal through Richard McMillen. Three minutes before the break, Mark Forest made it 3-0.

Four minutes into the second half North Down increased their lead when Andy Forest made it 4-0 and brother Mark made it five soonafter.

McMillen then made it 6-0 before Gavin Ringland pulled a goal back for the visitors with a well worked deflection from a Chris Taylor corner.

But Gary White then popped up unmarked to make it 7-1 in the closing stages of a game Down could well have done not playing in.