CARRYDUFF sealed the Down ACFL Division One title last night with a 1-12 to 0-11 win over their nearest rivals Loughinisland.
The two sides had been neck-and-neck over the past few weeks, with Carryduff going into the clash with a one-point lead in the standings with two games remaining.
Loughinisland had little room for error and although they were never ahead in the match, they were well in it at half-time trailing only by a point, 0-6 to 0-5.
Carryduff extended that lead to three with the first two scores of the second half and although the visitors reduced it back to two, an unanswered 1-3 for Carryduff killed the game as a contest, former county player James Guinness grabbing the crucial goal.
Loughinisland did score the final five points of the game but time ran out on them.
The final round of fixtures take place next week, with the champions visiting Warrenpoint and Loughinisland hosting Clonduff.
The Down SFC will begin in the last week of August.
