Leitrim 2-7 Down 1-9LEITRIM GAVE their small but vocal support a rare day of joy when they defeated Down at Páirc Seán Mhic Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon yesterday. Defeat would have consigned them to Division Four while Down needed the win for their promotion hopes.

Emlyn Mulligan pointed after four minutes from a free but two minutes later Benny Coulter scored a great goal from 25 metres to put Down in the driving seat.

Leitrim stepped up a gear and in the 23rd minute were awarded a penalty after a great move by the forwards was stopped when Philly McGuinness was upended in the square. Mulligan duly converted the penalty and Leitrim went on to lead 1-6 to 1-1 at the interval.

Down, aided by a strong wind, reduced the Leitrim lead through some excellent play by Ronan Sexton, Danny Hughes and the free-taking of centre back Liam Doyle to level matters by the 51st minute. But four minutes later, Leitrim were back in front when Philly McGuinness fisted to the Down net.

Down suffered further misfortune 10 minutes from time when midfielder Declan Rooney was given a straight red card following an off-the-ball foul spotted by the linesman. Down scored two points without reply but Leitrim held out for a win that could yet prove vital in their efforts to avoid relegation.

LEITRIM: N Gill; D Reynolds, J McKeon, M McGuinness; G Reynolds, B Prior, S Foley (0-1); G McCloskey (capt), M Duignan; M Foley, E Mulligan (1-4, one pen, four frees), P McGuinness (1-1); D O'Connor, D Brennan, F McBrien (0-1). Subs: D Duignan for F McBrien, C Duignan for D Brennan, C Regan for E Mulligan, R Gallagher for M Duignan, B McWeeney for P McGuinness.

DOWN: M McAllister; L Howard, G McArdle, M Cole; R Murtagh, L Doyle (0-5, frees), P Turley; A Rodgers, D Rooney; J Fegan, R Sexton (0-1), D Hughes (0-1); P Downey, D Gordon (capt), B Coulter(1-0). Subs: D Rafferty for G McArdle, A Carr (0-1) for R Murtagh, K McGuigan for P Turley, J Clarke (0-1) for P Downey, S Kearney for J Fegan.

Referee: M Daly (Mayo).