The hosts played against the wind in the opening half but held a 0-8 to 0-4 lead at the interval, with Sean Gannon and Eric McCormack keeping Carlow in touch.

However Leitrim were by far the better outfit in the second half, with a brace of Ray Cox points helping to open up a six-point gap for them by the 48th minute.

A lone goal from Declan Maxwell ended the third-quarter on a positive note for the hosts, following a pass from James Houlihan.

Although Carlow outscored Leitrim in the closing quarter, it was a case of too little, too late as Mickey Moran's side held on to take the win.