Laois 1-20 Galway 0-8, O'Moore Park

Meath 2-10 Armagh 0-19, Páirc Tailteann

Donegal moved back to the top of Division 2 this afternoon as they defeated Monaghan 2-11 to 0-10 in a repeat of last year's Ulster final in Letterkenny.

Goals from Odhrán Mac Niallais (7 minutes) and Colm McFadden (17) were the difference between the sides at the break, with Jim McGuinness' side leading 2-4 to 0-4.

That gap was maintained despite the best efforts of Monaghan's Conor McManus and Jack McCarron, and man-of-the-match Mac Niallais wrapped up the win late on with his third point.

Free-taker Conor McManus scored the Farney men's four first half points, but Donegal dominated possession and should really have been furher in front by half-time.

Mac Niallais sent a crisp shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Rory Beggan, following good build-up work by Ryan McHugh and Michael Murphy.

Donegal's second goal, which moved them 2-2 to 0-2 ahead, was also well constructed. Dermot Molloy picked up possession, turned and cut in from the wing to fist for the inrushing McFadden to knock the ball into the net.

In the second half, Monaghan were beginning to muscle in on Paul Durcan's kick-outs and back-to-back points from defender Fintan Kelly and Jack McCarron gave them some momentum at 2-5 to 0-6 down.

However, Donegal always seemed to have the answers. They replied with a McFadden point from play after full-back Neil McGee briefly joined the attack, and Murphy thumped home a long range free to stretch the lead to four points.

That margin was maintained as substitute Paddy McBrearty cancelled out a McCarron free, while Donegal stopper Durcan denied Dermot Malone as the visitors hunted for a goal that never came.

The Tir Chonaill men were in sight of the finish line as McBrearty made it 2-9 to 0-7, but corner back Karl Lacey had to be alert to block Dermot Malone's right-footed shot on the line.

Monaghan's challenge petered out though as their wides total increased to 13. They did rattle off late scores through Beggan ('45'), substitute Dessie Mone and McManus (free).

But Donegal ran out comfortable winners, completing a workmanlike display and their third victory of the league run with final points from substitute Declan Walsh and Mac Niallais.

Paul Grimley's Armagh outfit finally secured their first Division 2 win in Navan last night as a magnificent personal tally of 0-11 from Jamie Clarke helped the Orchard men edge out Meath by 0-19 to 2-10.

The Royals had built a 2-4 to 0-5 lead by the 26th minute thanks to goals by Michael Newman and Brian McMahon, but with Clarke splitting the posts on four occasions in the opening period - and Stephen Harold and Stefan Campbell both registering 0-2 apiece - Armagh cut the deficit to one (2-5 to 0-10) by the break.

A blistering start upon the resumption by Meath yielded points from the attacking triumvirate of Newman, McMahon and Eamon Wallace, but Armagh discovered an extra gear to level matters 11 minutes from time courtesy of four points from the unerringly accurate Clarke and the tireless Caolan Rafferty.

A black card issued to Meath substitute Damien Carroll on 63 minutes was a real hammer blow to Mick O'Dowd's charges, and thanks to further scores by substitute Eugene McVerry and the outstanding Clarke (three), Armagh emerged with the maximum points on offer.

The visit of a struggling Galway outfit to Portlaoise provided an ideal opportunity for Tomas O Flatharta's Laois side to boost their promoting prospects.

With 10 different players getting in on the scoring act, the O'Moore men duly cruised to a 1-20 to 0-8 success over the Tribesmen.

It was relatively even contest during the early stages and with Sean Armstrong and Under-21 graduate Adrian Varley both raising white flags, Galway led 0-3 to 0-2 after 15 minutes.

However, with Donie Kingston and Ross Munnelly both in fine form, Laois soon got on top. Thanks largely to a 31st minute goal by midfielder Kevin Meaney – via intelligent build-up play by former Aussie Rules star Colm Begley – the Leinster side held a 1-7 to 0-5 interval buffer.

Armstrong replied to Billy Sheehan's second half opener with a successful free, but following seven points without reply from a rampant Laois, the outcome was put beyond any doubt.

Points by Eddie Hoare and Paul Conroy marginally enhanced Galway's tally, but they remained off the pace throughout and three late efforts by substitute Gary Walsh sealed a comfortable triumph for the hosts.

The meeting of Down and Louth in Newry also proved to be a rather one-sided encounter. An astonishing combined tally of 3-10 between Donal O'Hare and second half substitute Benny Coulter ensured the Mourne men ran out comprehensive 19-point winners (4-16 to 0-9) over the winless Wee County.

Clashes involving these two sides are often intriguing, and given the knowledge that Louth manager Aidan O'Rourke - a former All-Ireland winning Armagh footballer - has of Ulster football, this possessed all the hallmarks of a titanic battle.

It did not quite transpire in this fashion though and with O'Hare registering 1-8 of his final total before the break, Down had all of 12 points to spare over Louth (1-11 to 0-2) as the action resumed.

This meant that it was a case of damage limitation for the visitors and although Derek Byrne and Darren Clarke tagged on some nice points, midfielder Brian White was dismissed for a second bookable offence either side of Coulter's trademark finishes.

Conor Maginn added his side's fourth goal in injury-time for some final gloss, with Down nicely positioned in second place in the standings - a point behind fellow promotion hopefuls Donegal.