Allianz Football League: Armagh and Donegal promoted back to Division One

Peter McGrane hit Armagh's first goal at the Athletic Grounds

Armagh and Donegal sealed promotion straight back to Division One of the Allianz Football League as they earned wins over Cavan and Kildare.

The Orchard men ended Cavan's promotion hopes by earning a dominant 2-21 to 0-12 win at the Athletic Grounds.

Donegal also go back up after they earned a 0-17 to 1-8 victory over Kildare which relegated the Lilywhites.

Fermanagh remain in danger of dropping down to Division Three after they were routed 6-17 to 0-11 by Louth.

Antrim's fifth straight defeat in Division Three as they lost 0-15 to 0-12 against Clare in Ennis means they could be relegated to Division Four next weekend if they are beaten at home by Oisin McConville's Wicklow.

Cavan no match for Orchard County

Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney had spoken of expecting a "massive test" from Cavan but in the event, the Orchard men had the game won by half-time as they led 2-12 to 0-4 at the break.

Cavan, under new manager Raymond Galligan, have had a good campaign and are safe from relegation, which would have been their main objective, but Saturday's contest was indicative of the gap between them and the elite teams at the moment.

Armagh had the wind advantage in the first half, and they made full use of it, by racing to a virtually unassailable lead.

Corner-back Peter McGrane scored his first goal at inter-county level, as he received a pass from Connaire Mackin, rounded the goalkeeper, and slotted low into an empty net.

Then, a converted Conor Turbitt penalty on the stroke of half-time gave them a 14-point lead.

In the second half, the home side managed the lead comfortably and never gave Cavan a sniff at coming back into the game.

The hosts were superb in front of the posts, scoring 23 times from 30 shots.

Peadar Mogan starred for Donegal against Kildare in Carlow as he hit 0-5

Donegal didn't have it quite so easy in Carlow against Kildare but Jim McGuinness' side still always looked on course to earn they win that would almost certainly have been enough to guarantee promotion even if Armagh had slipped up against Cavan.

Peadar Mogan top-scored for the Tir Chonaill men with five points from half-back.

Kevin Feely kept Kildare in contention but the Ulster county led 0-8 to 0-6 at half-time.

After the interval Michael Langan and Daire O Baoill continued the scoring for Donegal on a day where five of their forwards got on the scoresheet.

Alex Beirne netted for Kildare but a black card to Shane Farrell reduced any hopes of a late turnaround by the hosts.

Oisin Gallen and Mogan were on hand to extend Donegal's lead and guarantee promotion for the Ulster outfit.

Kildare, meanwhile, remain pointless and will drop into the third tier for 2025 after a surprisingly dismal Division Two campaign which followed the promise of their championship season in 2023.

Kieran Donnelly's side Fermanagh side will almost certainly need to beat Cavan next weekend to have any chance of avoiding the drop to Division Three

Ernemen embarrassed by Louth

Fermanagh dropped into the relegation places in Division Two of the Allianz Football League after they were hammered 6-17 to 0-11 by Louth in Ardee.

Louth moved out of the relegation zone as Sam Mulroy's first-half 2-3 helped them win by 24 points.

Peter Lynch and Conor Grimes also netted in the opening half as Louth led 4-6 to 0-6 at half-time.

Ciaran Downey and Tom Jackson also raised green flags to widen the gap in the second half.

The Ernemen found themselves six points behind inside 10 minutes before hitting four unanswered scores.

However, Lynch goal's snuffed out any hopes of Fermanagh revival.

Louth now leapfrog Fermanagh with Kieran Donnelly's side dropping into the relegation zone heading into the final weekend.

Almost certainly, the Ernemen will have to beat Cavan at Breffni Park next Saturday night to have any chance of avoiding the drop, with a draw unlikely to be enough to save Donnelly's side.

Louth, meanwhile, face relegated Kildare in Carlow next weekend when a victory for Ger Brennan's side will guarantee their safety.

Andy McEntee's Antrim remain in danger of relegation to Division Four after they lost in Clare on Saturday

In Division Three, Antrim remain under threat of relegation after they suffered a fourth straight defeat as they were edged out 0-15 to 0-12 by Clare in Ennis.

The Banner County led 0-9 to 0-3 at half-time, with the Saffrons being reduced to 14 men just before half-time after Colm McLarnon received a straight red card.

Antrim reduced Clare's lead in the final quarter but the home side held on for a victory that keeps their promotion hopes alive.

Limerick are relegated after their 0-9 to 0-8 defeat by Oisin McConville's Wicklow.

Antrim host Wicklow next Sunday and defeat by the Garden County will see Andy McEntee's side relegated if Offaly beat Limerick in Tullamore.

Offaly drew with Sligo on Saturday to move to three points so a victory over the Treaty County next weekend will put the Faithful County on five points - one ahead of Antrim if the Saffrons are beaten by Wicklow.

A Wicklow victory at Corrigan Park will see them joining Antrim on four points but McConville's side would avoid the drop on the head-to-head rule providing only they and the Saffrons are on the four-point mark.