Down’s dream of playing in Senior One next season is still very much alive.
Last weekend's 2-2 draw at Malone Park against title rivals South Antrim keeps the locals in the hunt for the championship.
If South Antrim beat Parkview in their outstanding league game, they will go head-to-head with Down in a play-off for the title. If South Antrim draw with Parkview, it will be Down who go up.
The locals went into last week's game missing Sinclair White, Ashley Gibson, Paul Neill and lost midfielder Paul Tate midway through the first half with a nasty hamstring injury.
Down created enough chances to win the game and South Antrim will point to a dramatic finale when Down's 'keeper and defender, Trevor McClurg, combined to deny them what would have been a winning goal which would have secured promotion.
Down were forced to play the injured Gavin Ringland at centre-forward, with Alasdair Duff moved into the middle of the park, with Johnny Lennon, who had an outstanding match, coming in on the right hand side of the defence.
Down made the early running on what was a bumpy pitch and Ringland tested the 'keeper early on with a half-chance.
As for their part, South Antrim played a centre-forward who spent the entire game on the edge of the Down penalty area in a bid to stretch the game, but the move failed as Lennon kept a tight rein on him.
Aaron Minnis was again outstanding against George Glass and while South Antrim did create two chances in the 13th and 15th minutes, the danger was cleared by Down's 'keeper.
Despite having to field what was something of a makeshift side, Down played well, with Chris Taylor providing the drive in the middle of the park and Mark Elliott asked to play the link role between the midfield and the forward line.
His intelligent hold-up play was a feature of Down's performance and midway through the half Ringland's scored a superb goal. A ball drilled in from the left wing fell at his feet in the penalty area and he swept the ball into the net for a brilliant goal.
Minutes later, he should have been awarded a penalty stroke. As Ringland was about to shoot, his stick was deliberately chopped. Incredibly, the umpire awarded a short corner, waving away Down protests for what looked like an obvious flick.
South Antrim equalised after a mistake on the left hand side of the Down defence in the 20th minute, but it was the home side who were creating more of the chances, but they could not produce that elusive touch to force the ball over the line.
Ringland again went close at the other end, while South Antrim were content to try a patient build-up from the back. But the Down defence of skipper, Jeremy McCready, Minnis, Lennon and James Erskine held firm.
Down, who introduced Philip Brown, as a replacement for the injured Tate, created much more of the chances in the second half and their persistence was rewarded midway through the half when Ringland scored a superb second, converting a cross from Elliott on the left to steer the ball past the 'keeper.
Ringland, who was a constant thorn in the side of the Lisburn defence all afternoon, again tested the 'keeper and Taylor saw a terrific shot fly past the wrong side of the post. Down were in control at the back, but for the closing minutes South Antrim threw everything at them.
It was backs-to-the-wall stuff as the visitors knew they had to take a least a point from the game to give themselves any hope of going up via a play-off.
Down's 'keeper made a smart save on the left hand side of his area before another controversial umpiring decision saw South Antrim awarded a penalty corner from which they eventually scored.
A South Antrim player deliberately lifted the ball up into McCready in the Down penalty area. Rather than award a free out, the umpire awarded a short corner when a shot eventually found its way into the corner of the net after being hit through a mountain of bodies in the area.
The goal gave the visitors a real lift and with just two minutes remaining they looked as though they were going to seal a dramatic win when they mounted a quick break after Down had lost possession.
Down's keeper made an initial stop on the edge of his area but the ball broke to a South Antrim player whose shot looked destined for the back of the net. But McClurg, who had raced around the back of his 'keeper to provide cover, somehow managed to stop the forward's shot and clear the ball to safety.
Down will be the most disappointed with the result, but if the league is decided as a result of a play-off, they will have most of their big names back.
Down: David Telford, Johnny Lennon, Aaron Minnis, Jeremy McCready, James Erskine, Alasdair Duff, Stephen Ferguson, Chris Taylor, Paul Tate, Gavin Ringland, Mark Elliott. Subs: Philip Brown, Trevor McClurg.