Down seconds are rooted to the bottom of Junior 3 after this defeat at the hands of derby rivals Kilkeel thirds at Malone Park.

The Mourne men won a five-goal thriller and Down would have grabbed a point had Paul Tate not missed with the goal at his mercy in the dying seconds of the game.

The visitors created the first chance of the game in the opening minute but James Erskine produced a great tackle to prevent a striker getting a shot in on goal. Tate then watched at the other end as his short corner strike was saved.

Kilkeel opened the scoring in the 12th minute from a short corner when home 'keeper Robert Hagan raced from his goal to confront the striker. But the ball didn't go to where he thought it would and another player's shot flew past skipper Gary Tate on the line.

Shaw McVeigh created a chance which wasn't taken in the 20th minute but seconds later Down were level. Paul Tate picked out Willie Price at a free hit and the latter's shot whistled past the 'keeper into the net. Indeed the same player nearly scored again a short time later after being set up by Mark Graham.

Kilkeel made it 2-1 in the 26th minute when Ryan Hammond scored with a cracking first time shot which gave Hagan no chance.

But Down fought back to make it 2-1 when Erskine's shot was swept into the net by McVeigh with just five minutes until the interval.

The second half was just 10 minutes old when Kilkeel scored what proved to be the winner through Willie Quinn following a short corner. Then came that late opportunity which Paul Tate, normally so deadly in front of goal, inexplicably missed.