Leitrim recovered from a slow start at Carrick-on-Shannon to claim an impressive 15-point win over a Carlow side who had three players dismissed in the second half of their Allianz NFL Division 4 clash.
Midway through in the second half the visitors had Ciaran Moran dismissed for a second yellow card offence late, with Jamie Clarke also walking after two yellows, and then Mickey Bambrick leaving after a straight red.
Leitrim were slow out of the blocks and approaching the 20 minute mark, the scoreboard was level at 0-02 apiece. Darragh Foley whipped over two points for the Carlow men while Keith Beirne and Tom Prior replied with a point each for the home side.
But Leitrim got on top over the next six minutes after Keith Beirne palmed to the Carlow net and converted a free, while Jack Heslin and Mark Plunkett shot points apiece.
A 24th minute long range point by Ciaran Moran kept Carlow in touch, before Keith Beirne put over a Leitrim free while Darragh Foley hit back with two free conversions by the 28th minute mark.
Jack Heslin kept the scoreboard ticking over for Leitrim when he split the Carlow uprights but two more free conversions by Darragh Foley reduced the home side's advantage to 0-03 as half-time approached.
A well taken Heslin goal shortly afterwards was answered by another Darragh Foley free conversion, leaving Leitrim with a 2-07 to 0-08 interval advantage.
After the restart Carlow reduced the deficit with a Darragh Foley 37th minute pointed free. But over the next next sixteen minutes Leitrim pulled away with Keith Beirne adding two free tap overs for the home side and Paul Keaney adding a point. Ross Dunphy and Darragh Foley (free) hit a point apiece for the visitors.
From there to the finish Leitrim completely dominated the exchanges with Keith Beirne converting three frees and adding a point from play, while subs Evan Sweeney and Barry McNulty added 0-02 apiece with Emlyn Mulligan, Darrragh Rooney and Conor Farrell getting a point each.
All Carlow could muster in reply was a Darragh Foley free conversion.
Leitrim: Darren Maxwell; Paddy Maguire, Mark Diffley, Conor Reynolds; Conor Farrell 0–1, Shane Quinn, Mark Plunkett 0–1; Aidan Flynn, Donal Wrynn; Darragh Rooney 0–1 , Jack Heslin 1–2f, Paul Keaney 0–1; Tom Prior, Keith Beirne 1–11 7f m, Jordan Reynolds.
Subs: James Rooney for J Reynolds (43); E. Mulligan 0–1 & T. Quinn for C Reynolds (57); Evan Sweeney 0–2 for Prior (58); Barry McNulty 0–2 for Heslin (66).
Carlow: Ciaran Cunningham; Liam Roberts, Mikey Bambrick, Dara Curran; Seanie Bambrick, Jordan Morrissey, Shane Clarke; Niall Hickey, Ciaran Moran 0–1; Josh Moore; Colm Hutton, Jamie Clarke, Ross Dunphy 0–2, Darragh Foley, 0–10 9f, Conor Crowley.
Subs: Eric Molloy for Crowley (6); Cormac Lomax for Molloy (20); Finbarr Kavanagh for Hutton (53); Shane Clarke for Moore (56).
Referee: Niall McKenna (Monaghan).
