Ross Carr was in disconsolate mood after his team's defeat

Down's hopes of promotion from Division 3 of the Allianz NFL are in tatters after they lost against Leitrim.

Benny Coulter's goal gave Down a great start before they lost their way and Emlyn Mulligan's penalty helped Leitrim lead 1-6 to 1-1 at the interval.

The Mourne County hit six of the next seven scores to level but Philip McGuinness then fisted a Leitrim goal.

Down midfielder Declan Rooney received a straight red card and the Mourne County's late rally proved in vain.

Interview: Ross Carr

Down's promotion hopes are now hanging by a thread as they need to win their two remaining games and hope that Wexford lose their final Division 3 match against Louth.

It all looked so promising early on as Liam Doyle's pass set up Coulter for his fifth-minute goal.

However, relegation-threatened Leitrim were fighting for their Division 3 lives and Mulligan responded with two quick scores.

Down replied in the 18th minute but it proved their last score of the opening period as Leitrim took control.

Mulligan's 23rd-minute penalty put the home side 1-2 to 1-1 ahead and he was on target two more times in the first half as the Leitrim advantage was extended to five by the interval.

Down boss Ross Carr tried to arrest his team's slide by making four half-time substitutes with Damien Rafferty, Aidan Carr, John Clarke and Kevin McGuigan all introduced.

The changes did bear some fruit as Down dominated the third quartet with Doyle (three), Daniel Hughes, Ronan Sexton and John Clarke all on target.

Those scores levelled the match at 1-7 apiece but a defensive error then gifted Leitrim the crucial score of the match as Philip McGuinness fisted to the net.

There had been several earlier off-the-ball skirmishes and it was little surprise that someone saw red on the hour with Declan Rooney getting his marching orders from referee Michael Daly.

Aidan Carr hit two late points to cut Leitrim's lead to the minimum and the manager's son also had a late chance to equalise which was blocked.

Ross Carr sounded hugely disappointed in his post-match analysis and no wonder after his side had almost certainly blown the promotion that should have been theirs.

Down: M McAllister, L Howard, G McArdle, M Cole, R Murtagh, L Doyle, P Turley, A Rodgers, D Rooney, J Fegan, R Sexton, D Hughes, P McComiskey, D Gordon, B Coulter.