Meath 0-10 Derry 0-8: It was a bitter-sweet afternoon for Meath at Páirc Tailteann yesterday. A first league victory over Derry since 1981 was not enough to save Meath from the dreaded drop after one term in the top flight.

Afterwards, Royal County manager Eamonn Barry conceded that the four goals leaked against Galway in Salthill in the previous round was their undoing as holders Armagh and Kildare stayed up because of their better score difference.

"While it's disappointing to be going back down, it's not the end of the world. Meath have been in Division Two before and came back up. The main priority today was to win the game and we did that which pleases me."

It was 28 minutes before Derry got on the board with a pointed free from Enda Muldoon and Meath led by 0-6 to 0-1 at the break after being favoured by the strong breeze.

Meath welcomed back Graham Geraghty and he showed up well on his return to the wing-back role in which he made his name.

With Paddy Bradley to the fore Derry improved considerably in the second half to get the deficit down to the minimum.

Meath responded well after looking in danger of conceding the lead, and a great long-range free driven over by Joe Sheridan gave them the confidence to keep their noses in front.

MEATH: B Murphy; P Nugent, C King, N McLoughlin; G Geraghty, A Moyles, S Kenny; B Lynch, N Crawford; P Curran (0-2, frees), J Sheridan (0-1 free), P Byrne (0-2); D Regan (0-3 frees), M Doran (0-2), C Ward. Subs: R Maguire for C Ward (19 mins); M Ward for Nugent (60 mins); M Crampton for Maguire (66 mins); T O'Connor for Geraghty (67 mins).

DERRY: B Scullion; K McGuckin, K McCloy, SM Lockhart; L Hinphey, P McFlynn, G O'Kane; Patsy Bradley, J Diver; J O'Kane, E Muldoon (0-1 free), B McGoldrick; M Lynch, Paddy Bradley (0-5, two frees), J Kelly (0-1). Subs: J McBride for Diver (half-time); E Bradley (0-1) for J O'Kane (39 mins); F McEldowney for G O'Kane (61 mins).

Referee: J Deaney (Cork).