Final day drama in all four divisions
Well that was exciting. After weeks of thrilling action from the top tier all the way to Division Four, all matters of promotion and relegation have been settled with some very excited and very disappointed players after their Spring efforts.
Division One
Colm Cooper’s return played a major part in Kerry’s survival in the top flight as his late introduction inspired the Kingdom to a draw in Omagh against Tyrone. The game ended 1-14 to 0-17 but the result was enough for Kerry to stay up while demoting Mickey Harte’s side along with Derry,despite the Oak Leafers beating Cork by 2-15 to 1-11.
Donegal’s draw with Mayo was enough for them to move into the last four after it ended 1-9 to 0-12 having led by 1-5 to 0-7 at the break. Dublin destroyed Monaghan by 1-22 to 1-11 with Brian Fenton’s early goal setting the tone for a miserable day for the Ulster outfit,who despite the result are through to the semi’s also.
The semi final paring’s are: Cork v Donegal and Dublin v Monaghan and those games take place next weekend.
Relegated: Tyrone and Derry
Division Two
The most competitive division of all four was a day full of drama with several sides looking to avoid dreaded demotion while the race for promotion also went down to the final minutes. Down’s win over Laois by 3-12 to 1-15 secured their place in the league final where they’ll meet Roscommon who beat Westmeath by 2-13 to 0-12.
That loss condemned Westmeath to Division Three next season, while Galway knew that anything less than a win over Kildare would also see them in serious relegation trouble. Luckily for the Westerners Kildare’s limp league form continued this afternoon, as they lost out by 3-12 to 1-12 and so are demoted for next season. The final game saw Meath and Cavan hit a huge amount of wides over the course of the 70 minutes with the Royals eventually winning by 0-14 to 0-12, but missing out on promotion.
League Final 26th April: Down v Roscommon
Relegated: Westmeath and Kildare
Division Three
Ahead of today’s final round action all that needed to be decided was who would be demoted. Fermanagh and Armagh had already secured their promotion and so were involved in dead rubbers at least in terms of their own ambitions. However the consequences of losing today were huge for a number of sides with Clare and Limerick both hoping to avoid the drop with Wexford already condemned.
Clare secured a precious home win over Fermanagh in Ennis by 1-14 to 2-9 to extend their stay in Division Three while Limerick edged out Louth by 2-13 to 2-11 in Drogheda. That meant the Leinster side fell through the trapdoor to the basement tier. Sligo beat Armagh by 1-19 to 0-8, while Wexford restored pride but nothing more with a facile 2-15 to 2-9 win over Tipperary.
League Final 25th April: Armagh v Fermanagh
Relegated: Louth and Wexford
Division Four
Longford were safely through to the league final winning their penultimate game but Antrim had an outside chance of stealing one of the last promotion spots if they could engineer a win over Offaly who were also scrapping to join Longford back in Division Three.
The home side led in Tullamore by 1-5 to 1-2 at the break as Nigel Dunne grabbed the opening goal for the home side which was cancelled out by CJ McGourty. However roared on by an enthusiastic crowd in Tullamore the Faithful stormed home to an impressive 1-13 to 1-7 win and joined Longford in the league final later this month.
The other games in the basement tier were for mere pride as Carlow slumped to a heavy defeat to Longford by 1-18 to 1-12, and London recorded a rare away victory over Wicklow by 2-8 to 0-12.
League Final 25th April: Longford v Offaly
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