Allianz Football League: Armagh relegated as they lose in Tyrone and Monaghan win

Armagh have been relegated from Division One of the Allianz Football League after they lost 0-18 to 0-16 against Tyrone in Omagh and Monaghan beat Mayo 2-14 to 0-14 at Castlebar.

Monaghan's second escape act in as many seasons came as Conor McManus' last-kick penalty sealed their win.

Ryan O'Toole hit Monaghan's first goal as they led 1-6 to 0-8 at half-time.

A draw would have been enough to keep Armagh in Division One but instead the Farney County survive once again.

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Last year, the Farney men avoided the drop in dramatic circumstances after snatching a one-point victory over Dublin at Clones.

Donegal's relegation - already a virtual certainty after last weekend's hammering by Mayo - was mathematically confirmed as they suffered another chastening defeat against Connacht opposition as Roscommon won 0-21 to 0-9 at Dr Hyde Park.

Galway will face Mayo in next weekend's Division One Final after they defeated Kerry 1-13 to 0-14 at Salthill.

Armagh relegated by arch rivals

The pain of Armagh's relegation was made all the more intense by the manner in which it was inflicted, at the hands of arch rivals Tyrone in a Healy Park thriller.

The sides were level on 11 occasions, but in the end it was Armagh who came up short as they fell through the trapdoor to Division Two.

The Red Hands, despite successive wins over Kerry and Monaghan, went into the game with fear, but in the end comfortably avoided the drop with a fourth-placed finish.

An injury which kept ace attacker Rian O'Neill out of the game was a serious blow to Armagh, but his replacement, Conor Turbitt, justified his selection with three well taken scores inside the opening 13 minutes to give Kieran McGeeney's men a positive start.

But despite excellent defensive work and a series of turnovers, Armagh were unable to hold a hungry Tyrone attack, with the home side raiding on the counter for Darren McCurry and Peter Harte to fire over points.

Niall Grimley's mark stretched the lead to two, but the home side responded with three points in a row, going in front for the first time in the 22nd minute, with full-back Ronan McNamee, making his first appearance of the season, sending McCurry in to hit the target.

A draw would have kept Armagh in Division One but it wasn't to be for the for the Orchard men

Even though Tyrone midfielders Brian Kennedy and Conn Kilpatrick were getting forward at every opportunity, Armagh halted a number of home attacks and at the other end, Turbitt was on target with his fourth, and Aidan Forker, with a sliced gem from distance, as the visitors drew level.

But it was Tyrone who finished the half strongly, as Darragh Canavan was denied a goal by a brilliant Ethan Rafferty save, before McCurry's stoppage-time score put them 0-8 to 0-7 ahead.

Tyrone stretched their advantage to three after the restart as McNamee found the perfect way to neutralise a packed defence as he thumped over a ling range score, followed by a Mattie Donnelly effort.

But Stefan Campbell conjured up a couple of magical touches at the other end with inspirational scores for a resilient Orchard wide as they levelled for the eighth time.

Rory Grugan's creative influence crafted scores for Callum Cumiskey and Campbell as they kept it close right to the closing stages.

However, the Orchard men were pressed back inside their own '45 for much of the closing 10 minutes, forcing Tyrone to switch the play before game management and ball retention saw them create the openings for McCurry, with his seventh, and McNamee, to send over the scores that clinched the home win.

Monaghan were in action against Mayo in Castlebar

McManus inclusion inspires Monaghan

Monaghan's task at Castlebar was made easier as Mayo - with a place in the Division One final already secured - made 10 changes from the win over Donegal although Aidan O'Shea was retained in Kevin McStay's starting line-up.

McManus making his first start for the Farney men in this season's league made a huge difference as he hit 1-5.

O'Toole's goal put Monaghan 1-3 to 0-2 ahead after 14 minutes although Paul Towey's four first-half points helped cut the Ulster county's advantage to 1-6 to 0-8 by half-time.

Another Towey free levelled the game immediately after the restart and while two McManus points helped Monaghan move three up by the 41st minute, Mayo were on terms again by the 54th minute.

The match was level again by the 66th minute after a Stephen O'Hanlon score was cancelled out by a Bob Tuohy point.

However, Conor McCarthy's superb score was then followed a McManus 'mark' point in the 69th minute.

O'Hanlon's strong finish to the contest saw him notch his second point, before McManus slotted his late penalty after Karl O'Connell had been fouled as the Mayo goal was left gaping following Rob Hennelly's charge upfield.

Donegal's miserable week continues

Donegal's miserable week was completed as they once again surrendered meekly at Dr Hyde Park.

Coach Aidan O'Rourke and selector Paddy Bradley took charge after Paddy Carr's midweek resignation but the pattern was remarkably similar to last week against Mayo as Donegal remained in touch in the opening quarter before the opposition took control by half-time.

Points from Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Caolan McGonagle and Conor O'Donnell helped the Tir Chonaill men lead 0-3 to 0-2 a lively opening six minutes and they were still in at touch as 0-6 to 0-5 down after 15 minutes.

But a run of four straight points - including two Diarmuid Murtagh scores - put daylight between the sides and the margin was five by the interval as Roscommon led 0-12 to 0-7.

Donegal didn't manage a second-half score until Ciaran Thompson's 53rd-minute point which left them 0-15 to 0-8 down.

Their only other second-half score was Jeaic McKelvey's late injury-time score on another thoroughly dispiriting afternoon for Donegal football as they now must contemplate the prospect of Division Two Football next year for the first time since 2019.