DERRY CLINCHED PROMOTION to Division 1 with a comprehensive 2-17 to 1-5 victory over Westmeath this afternoon.
The home side made several changes to their team as they had already secured a promotion spot before the game.
Derry only needed a point to move up to the top tier but they achieved that in style and will now face Westmeath in the Division 2 decider on April 28th.
Two expertly-taken penalties by James Kielt helped Derry secure victory. His first strike was a from a kick that was awarded after Benny Heron was fouled and that helped Derry lead 1-6 to 0-3 at the interval.
Eoin Bradley kicked five points for the winners while his colleague in the full-forward line Lee Kennedy registered three points.
Dessie Dolan raised three white flags for a Westmeath side that are likely to pose a stiffer test in the decider later this month.
Derry’s victory meant that Laois and Galway’s faint promotion hopes were dashed. Laois gave themselves the best possible chance of going up with a 0-14 to 1-8 success away to Wexford.
In the process Laois sent Wexford, promoted last year from Division 3, back down to the third tier of league football.
Justin McNulty’s side were on their game from the off with Padraig McMahon and Ross Munnelly leading the way as they surged ahead by 0-10 to 0-2 at the interval.
Redmond Barry netted a penalty after the interval to cut the gap to 0-11 to 1-3 yet they could not make further inroads and lost out three points.
With both Armagh and Louth winning, Wexford ended up relegated along with Glenn Ryan’s Longford who already knew their fate before the start of the day’s games.
Armagh’s survival was particularly noteworthy as they had started the day in seventh place in the table.
But they climbed to safety with a 0-21 to 1-12 victory at the Athletic Grounds. Kevin Dyas starred for the Orchard men as he shot 0-5 while Stephen Harold registered 0-3.
Conor Doherty fired home the only goal of the game for Galway but the Tribesmen still suffered a six-point reversal.
Louth ensured their survival with a 1-14 to 1-8 win against Longford in Drogheda. Seanie McCormack bagged 1-4 in the first-half as Longford lead 1-6 to 1-4 at half-time.
But a Shane Lennon goal before the break helped bring Louth back into contention. Lennion ended up with 1-4 to his name as Louth went on to dominate in the second-half and Brian White grabbed 0-6 to help the Wee County fashion a success.
