Down seconds played some great hockey in their 5-0 demolition of Instonians fifths at Malone Park, with the club's young players enjoying a starring role alongside some of the old hands.

The game was played in a torrential downpour for the most part, with Willie Price returning at the heart of the home defence for his first game of the season.

Gary Brown was outstanding in the middle of the park with skipper Mark Graham also particularly impressive. Lewis McIntosh, who was a thorn in the Instonians defence for most of the game and scored a brilliant hat-trick, went close early on after collecting a smart pass from Liam Kearney.

Brown, McIntosh and Kearney combined brilliantly all afternoon, with Brown in particular getting through an enormous amount of work in the middle of the park, despite the rain and tricky underfoot conditions.

Kearney opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a powerful strike from just inside the penalty area which gave the 'keeper no chance. Moments later Brown teed up McIntosh whose shot flashed past the wrong side of the post.

Instonians didn’t produce a meaningful shot on goal in the first period, with Graham urging his players to be more assertive in the second half and they responded magnificently. But home 'keeper David Moreland was a lot busier in the second period, producing a number of important saves.

Kearney set up McIntosh who produced a brilliant first time finish before Richard Hamilton was denied twice in quick succession by the Instonians 'keeper.

Moreland produced a great save in the 49th minute to preserve his side’s two-goal advantage before a scintillating Graham run into the Instonians penalty area came to nothing.

Brown whipped in a cross for McIntosh whose first time shot was well saved, but the move was just a rehearsal, with the exact same move two minutes later producing a goal with McIntosh producing a brilliant finish to make it 3-0.

Kearney was then denied by the ‘keeper before Hamilton’s shot was deflected into his own net by a defender in the 25th minute. Down were hungry for more and while Graham should have made it 5-0, a fifth goal for the home side was just around the corner.

The impressive Kearney was the architect of the goal and when he teed up McIntosh there was only going to be one outcome with the striker tucking the ball home to complete his hat-trick.