Laois, Galway or Kildare will join Mayo in Division 2 next year and if results go their way, Tyrone could yet secure fourth place in the table and a place in the semi-finals.

However, Tyrone face a daunting final fixture away from home against champions Cork while the two teams directly below Tyrone in the table, Laois and Galway, are in direct opposition next Sunday.

Today a 1-7 haul from Mayo’s Cora Staunton wasn’t enough as the relegation trapdoor swung open and snared Jason Taniane’s team.

But pointless Mayo, who lost their sixth successive game, can count themselves unfortunate not to have secured a lifeline as they were undone by a late Gemma Begley goal.

Mayo also led by 2-5 to 1-4 at half-time as Staunton and Ciara Hanahoe struck their first half goals, with Laura McCreesh on target for Tyrone.

And in the second half, Clodagh Poyntz missed a Tyrone penalty before Triona McNicholas goaled at the other end for Mayo.

At 3-5 to 1-7 clear, Mayo were further boosted when Tyrone forward Gemma Begley was sin-binned and a point from Staunton stretched Mayo’s lead to five points.

But McCreesh hit her second goal of the game to haul Tyrone back into contention and in a dramatic finish, Begley pounced for a priceless winning goal before Poyntz shot the Ulster outfit two points clear with the final white flag of the game.

Mayo’s dismal afternoon ended with the dismissal of Fiona McHale on a straight red card in the dying moments.

In Division 2, goals from Caroline Reen and Mags O’Donoghue helped last year’s beaten All-Ireland senior semi-finalists Kerry to victory against hosts Waterford in the Munster derby at Fraher Field, Dungarvan.

Table-toppers Kerry, who led by 2-8 to 0-5 at half-time, made it six wins from six against last year’s beaten All-Ireland intermediate finalists Waterford. Aileen Wall scored a second half goal for the Déise but their hopes of a top four finish were ended with this defeat.

In Division 3, Wicklow fired themselves into the top four with a crucial 4-11 to 4-10 victory against fellow challengers Leitrim.

Caoilfhioon Deeney (2), Niamh Coleman and Lucy Mulhall scored the Wicklow goals in a thriller as Roisin Fowley and Aine Tighe hit a brace each for Leitrim.

And in Division 4, Cliodhna McHugh bagged four goals for rampant Roscommon as they defeated Antrim by 5-24 to 1-3 to remain second in the table behind Westmeath.

**

Bord Gáis Energy Ladies National Football League Division 1 results:

Galway 0-9 Cork 4-12

Laois 1-10 Monaghan 2-8

Donegal 3-15 Kildare 2-16

Tyrone 3-10 Mayo 3-8

Bord Gáis Energy Ladies National Football League Division 2 results:

Armagh 2-4 Cavan 1-10

Meath 3-15 Tipperary 2-6

Waterford 1-10 Kerry 2-15

Dublin v Sligo – conceded by Sligo

Bord Gáis Energy Ladies National Football League Division 3 results:

Limerick 0-18 Wexford 3-5

Wicklow 4-11 Leitrim 4-10

Fermanagh 5-9 Down 3-15

Clare v Longford – conceded by Longford

Bord Gáis Energy Ladies National Football League Division 4 results:

Offaly 4-13 Kilkenny 0-6

Roscommon 5-24 Antrim 1-3

Derry 2-8 Carlow 0-9

Westmeath 2-16 Louth 0-12