Meath survived a dramatic final day in Division 2 of the Allianz Football League as a six-point win over Laois helped them maintain their Division 2 status.
Four teams finished on six points but Meath had a strong enough scoring difference to stay ahead of Armagh who make the drop.
For Laois the result means they finish bottom of the division and for the first time since 2002 will play outside the top two divisions in 2017.
Meath recovered from a poor start that saw them fall seven points behind to end up dominating the game following the sending off Laois forward Evan O’Carroll ten minutes into the second half.
O’Carroll picked up a second yellow card when a wayward boot caught James McEntee and although Laois were two points up at the stage, they collapsed in the final quarter as Meath romped to victory.
Laois started at a blistering pace and hit a scarcely believable 1-4 in the first five minutes. Evan O’Carroll and Niall Donoher pointed in the opening two minutes and then Donoher goaled when he pounced on a rebound from a Donie Kingston shot on goal.
And while Conor Meredith (free) and John O’Loughlin pointed in quick succession, Meath soon settled into the contest.
Cillian O’Sullivan got them off the mark and though Gary Walsh replied immediately, Meath then scored seven points on trot – from Donnacha Tobin, Graeme Reilly (two), Mickey Newman (free), Darragh Smith, Andrew Tormey and Conor Downey to draw level.
Donie Kingston stopped the rot for Laois with a handy free but the sides went into the break level after Newman got his second point.
O’Carroll and Walsh (free) edged Laois ahead early in the second half but the dismissal of the young Crettyard man proved to be the turning point of the game.
Ross Munnelly and Mickey Newman swapped frees but Meath hit the last eight points of the game to eventually win by six.
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Elsewhere in Division 2 Armagh were relegated despite beating Derry at the Athletic Grounds.
Kieran McGeeney’s men needed Tyrone to beat Fermanagh or Laois to defeat Meath in order to survive.
They go down on points difference and will join Laois in Division 3 next year.
Scorers for Meath: Mickey Newman 0-4 (three frees), Graham Reilly 0-3, Sean Tobin (one free) and Conor Downey 0-2 each, Cian O’Brien, Dalton McDonagh, Donnacha Tobin, Darragh Smith, Cillian O’Sullivan, Mickey Burke and Andrew Tormey 0-1 each
Scorers for Laois: Niall Donoher 1-1, Gary Walsh and Evan O’Carroll (one free) 0-2 each, John O’Loughlin, Donie Kingston (free), Conor Meredith (free) and Ross Munnelly 0-1 each
Laois
1. Graham Brody (Portlaoise)
19. Alan Farrell (Ballylinan)
3. Mark Timmons (Graiguecullen)
4. Stephen Attride (Killeshin)
5. Darren Strong (Emo)
2. Robbie Kehoe (O’Dempsey’s)
7. Gareth Dillon (Portlaoise)
8. Brendan Quigley (Timahoe)
9. Kevin Meaney (Arles-Kilcruise)
10. Niall Donoher (Courtwood)
11. John O’Loughlin (St Brigid’s)
12. Conor Meredith (O’Dempsey’s)
13. Evan O’Carroll (Crettyard)
21. Gary Walsh (Ballylinan)
14. Donie Kingston (Arles-Killeen)
Subs:
17. Damien O’Connor (Timahoe) for Dillon (half-time)
24. Nigel Murphy (Emo) for Kehoe (injured – 51)
23. Ross Munnelly (Arles-Kilcruise) for Walsh (53)
20. Paul Cahillane (Portlaoise) for Donoher (60)
18. Jamie Farrell (Ballylinan) for Meaney (63)
25. Daniel O’Reilly (Graiguecullen) for Meredith (66)
Meath
1. Conor McHugh (Oldcastle)
2. Donal Keogan (Rathkenny)
6. Mickey Burke (Longwood)
3. Conor McGill (Ratoath)
10. James McEntee (Curraha)
7. Donnacha Tobin (Blackhall Gaels)
5. Darragh Smith (Navan O’Mahony’s)
19. Graham Reilly (St Colmcille’s)
8. Harry Rooney (Skryne)
9. Padraic Harnan (Moynalvey)
17. Conor Downey (Na Fianna)
11. Cillian O’Sullivan (Moynalvey)
13. Dalton McDonagh (Na Fianna)
14. Andrew Tormey (Ashbourne-Donaghmoyne)
15. Michael Newman (Kilmainhamwood)
Subs:
18. Cian O’Brien (Ratoath) for D Tobin (injured – half time)
20. Donal Lenihan (St Peter’s Dunboyne) for Tormey (46)
Great day for Meath as they stay up while Laois are relegated
Meath 0-18
Laois 1-9
Laois
Meath
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Division 2 GAA Laois Meath