IT has been a scrappy affair at the Kingspan Breffni Park in Co Cavan.
The throw-in was delayed by ten minutes because of traffic congestion on the way into the ground.
Just before the end of half time, Donegal’s Ryan Bradley had to be taken off with possible a head injury.
Down got off to a quiet start but it was Donegal who got the early scores on the board to give Jim McGuinness a cushion of his opposite number James McCartan.
Michael Murphy got three points on the board for Donegal, along with two from McFadden and one from Paddy McBrearty.
It took down 15 minutes got on the score board with a free kick from Donal O’Hare.
And O’Hare got another points from frees before Mark McPoland got Down’s first point from open play.
Donegal scorers: Murphy 0-3, McFadden 0-2, McBrearty 0-1
Down scorers: O’Hare 0-3, Poland 0-1.