DIVISION ONE
MAYO will be playing their league football in the second tier next season after a terrific Tyrone performance in Castlebar confirmed the Connacht men’s relegation.
The Red Hands arrived in the west knowing a draw would preserve their Division One status for another year, but a brace of majors from returning Aussie Rules star Conor McKenna helped them take both points available.
With Monaghan only managing a draw against an already relegated Meath at Clones, it would have been the Farney county to fall through the trapdoor in the event of a Mayo victory, but the westerners were unable to pull the lever on the Ulster men and leave Division One after a 23-year unbroken presence.
At the other end of the table, Kerry’s 14-point victory over Donegal on Saturday was enough to confirm their place as division winners.
DIVISION TWO
ARMAGH put their defeat to Roscommon behind them on Saturday, with a five-point victory over Clare enough to pip Kildare to the second promotion spot in Division Two, despite the Lilywhites beating Westmeath.
The Rossies are the other team to be moving on up to Division One and their four-point win over Cavan was enough to confirm they also finished top of the pile in the second division.
That loss to Roscommon made it a disastrous end to the league season for the Breffni county, with relegation to Division Three the outcome as Clare survived by the skin of their teeth. Fermanagh had already been relegated and concluded their campaign with a home defeat to Laois.
DIVISION THREE
THE top two spots in Division Three were already sewn up before the weekend’s games, with Cork and Down assured of second division football next season.
Down lost by seven to relegated Louth in their dead rubber, while table topping Cork were awarded a walk-over in their cancelled fixture with Longford.
Tipperary secured their Division Three status, and relegated Leitrim in the process, courtesy of goals in each half by Kevin O'Halloran and Liam Casey against the Connacht men.
DIVISION FOUR
IT WAS another story of what might have been for the Antrim footballers as they missed out on promotion to the third tier despite a final day win over Waterford in Dundalk.
It was last weekend’s shock drubbing to Wicklow which did the damage for the Saffrons, with the Garden county securing their promotion with a three-point in Wexford Park. Limerick’s two-point win in Sligo guaranteed the Treaty promotion and top spot.
