Football League Division 2: Donegal 1-19 3-07 Louth

Donegal remain on course for a return to Division 1 of the Football League after this win over relegated Louth.

The 2012 All-Ireland champions totally dominated the first half as they hit 10 unanswered points to lead 0-12 to 0-1.

Paddy Keenan's goal cut Donegal's lead to nine by half-time and the lead remained 10 with 18 minutes remaining.

Two goals in a minute from Keenan and Brian White reduced Donegal's lead to three before David Walsh's three-pointer eased the home side's nerves.

Louth needed to win at Ballyshannon to have any chance of avoiding the drop and they are now guaranteed to go down even though they still have to face Meath next weekend.

A draw at the Athletic Grounds against Armagh will be enough to guarantee Jim McGuinness's side promotion and depending on other results, even a defeat may not prevent Donegal from remaining in the top two in the Division.

The scores were well spread in the Donegal ranks in the first half with Declan Walsh, Christy Toye, Rory Kavanagh, Dermot Molloy and Anthony Thompson all on target in addition to regular main scorers Colm McFadden and Michael Murphy.

A big Donegal win seemed on the cards when Toye, McFadden and Murphy slotted further points after the restart but Louth's direct tactics caused the home defence severe trouble in the final quarter.

Keenan's superb second goal was followed by White's three-pointer as suddenly there was only the kick of the ball between the sides but David Walsh's goal then ended any prospect of the most unlikely of comebacks.

The reverse was Louth's fourth defeat in six games as they remain on two points in the division after their draws against Armagh and Galway.

WEEKEND RESULTS

SATURDAY

Football League Division 1

Dublin 3-14 2-17 Mayo

Division 2

Meath 1-14 1-11 Down

Division 3

Cavan 0-14 1-08 Roscommon [Breffni Park]

SUNDAY

Football League Division 1

Cork 2-14 0-20 Tyrone

Derry 2-17 3-09 Kildare

Westmeath 0-13 2-15 Kerry

Division 2

Galway 2-14 1-13 Armagh

Monaghan 0-19 0-14 Laois

Donegal 1-19 3-07 Louth

Division 3

Offaly 1-12 1-13 Limerick

Sligo 0-15 2-08 Longford

Fermanagh 1-14 0-06 Wexford

Division 4

Antrim 3-15 1-10 London

Leitrim 0-16 5-16 Tipperary

Clare 3-21 2-10 Carlow

Wicklow 2-14 0-12 Waterford

HURLING LEAGUE

Division 1 quarter-finals

Laois 2-19 2-23 Clare

Wexford 2-16 4-22 Kilkenny

Limerick 1-12 1-20 Galway

Tipperary 3-25 4-19 Cork

Division 1A relegation play-off

Waterford 1-17 4-13 Dublin

Division 1B relegation play-off

Antrim 1-18 1-14 Offaly

Division 2B relegation play-off

Fingal 0-08 4-12 Armagh