Div 2A/Carlow 1-15 Leitrim 0-16: Carlow footballers recorded their first win of their campaign with a narrow but deserved win over Leitrim at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow yesterday.

This was a first victory for Carlow manager Liam Hayes and he will be grateful to his full forward line of Simon Rea, Mark Carpenter and Brian Kelly for contributing 12 points.

The game's only goal proved crucial. It came in the 18th minute when a Bryan Carbery sideline kick caused confusion in the Leitrim defence and, having hopped off the crossbar, the loose ball was boxed to the Leitrim net by David Nolan.

Kelly was in devastating form for the final 15 minutes of the half and Carlow led 1-8 to 0-6 at half-time.

When Carlow stretched into a six-point lead early in the second half they were subsequently pegged back by a resurgent Leitrim, for whom Michael Foley was deadly accurate from frees, but Carlow held on for the win.

CARLOW: J Brennan; C McCarthy, L Murphy, S Murphy; B Farrell, J Hayden, P Kelly; M Brennan, T Walsh; B Carbery (0-3), R Sinnott, D Nolan (1-0); S Rea (0-3, one free), M Carpenter (0-3), B Kelly (0-6, two frees). Subs: P Walsh for Kehoe.

LEITRIM: C McCann; M McGuinness, J McKeon, B Butler; N Gilbane, B McWeeney, S Foley; C Carroll (0-1), G McCloskey; J Goldrick (0-2), B Prior, D Reynolds (0-1); M Foley (0-8, seven frees), D Maxwell (0-2), J Glancy (0-2). Subs: C Regan for McCloskey.

YELLOW CARDS - Carlow: T Walsh replaced by D Byrne, R Sinnott replaced by C Pender, B Farrell replaced by J Kehoe, S Murphy replaced by B Daly. Leitrim: J Glancy replaced by R Cox.

Referee: G Haugh (Limerick).