Kildare took a big step towards promotion from Division 2 as they eased past Tyrone to move alongside Down at the top of the table.
While the Ulster side have them on the head-to-head rule, the fact that Meath lost to Derry gives both sides a four-point buffer on third, with Down playing Kerry tomorrow.
The Lilywhites were 2-34 to 0-08 winners in Newbridge, with the outcome all but decided by the 20th minutes as the hosts had raced into a 1-13 to 0-03 lead, with Muiris Curtin grabbing their goal.
The gap was 20 points at the break, 1-21 to 0-04, and Kildare extended their lead further in the second half, with Jack Sheridan adding a 44th minute goal, with Tyrone's cause not helped by Tiernan Morgan’s red card. The Red Hands’ relegation was confirmed by the loss.
Derry got the better of Meath in a thriller at Celtic Park, Johnny McGarvey’s side winning 1-27 to 1-23.
The Oakleafers led 1-16 to 1-09 at the break. Meath reduce their arrers after the restart, but a Derry outfit with Cormac O'Doherty back in situ always had the upper hand.
Brendan Mulry's goal after just two minute proved decisive as Roscommon defeated Cavan by 1-19 to 0-19 at King and Moffatt Dr Hyde Park in Division 3.
A 2-20 to 0-18 victory for London over Sligo at McGovern Park in Ruislip condemned the latter to life in Division 4 next season, with David Devine racking up a personal tally of 2-07 as the hosts extended their 100% winning streak.
Table-toppers Louth defeated Longford by 0-22 to 2-08 in Division 4, with Fermanagh edging out Leitrim 0-21 to 1-16.
Those that made the trip to Patrick Kavanagh country to take in Monaghan and Lancashire were treated to a high-scoring encounter, with the English outfit running out 4-20 to 0-20 winners in Inniskeen as Shane O'Boyle netted a first-half hat-trick.
