Armagh's brilliant 1-18 to 0-15 victory over Derry at the Athletic Grounds was in vain as they are relegated to Division Three anyway.
Meath's win over Laois and Fermanagh's draw with Tyrone elsewhere meant that four teams finished level on six points apiece second-from-bottom of the final Division Two table and it's Armagh who bow out due to a vastly inferior scoring difference of -16.
Ultimately, it was the seventeen-point drubbing at the hands of Division One bound Cavan that cost Kieran McGeeney's charges their scond-tier status.
Miceal McKenna pounced for the game's only goal in injury-time at the end of the first half as the hosts rallied with a scoring run of 1-5 without reply.
Rory Grugan (2) and top scorer Ethan Rafferty (3) made it 0-12 to 0-7 before McKenna's left-footed finish left eight between the teams at the interval.
Despite having the wind at their backs, the Oak Leafers managed to score just twice from play in the second half, with Mark Lynch matching Rafferty's tally of seven pointed frees.
Armagh - P Morrison; A Mallon (0-1), C Vernon, S Heffron; M Shields (0-1), S Connell, J McElroy; A Forker, E Rafferty (0-7f); R Grugan (0-2), M McKenna (1-1), C O'Hanlon (0-1); C Watters (0-1), S Campbell (0-3), G McParland (0-1). Subs: T Kernan for J McElroy, N Grimley for C O'Hanlon, M McNeice for P Morrison, A Findon for G McParland.
Derry - T Mallon; O Duffy, C McKaigue, K McKaigue; L McGoldrick, B Rogers, D Heavron; C McAtamney, C McFaul; N Loughlin, C Bradley (0-2), J Kielt (0-3, 2f); E McGuckin (0-1), M Lynch (0-7f), SL McGoldrick (0-1). Subs: E Bradley for C McAtamney, R Bell (0-1) for S L McGoldrick, C Mullan for L McGoldrick, C Murphy for N Loughlin, D Mullan for E McGuckin, C O'Boyle for J Kielt.
Referee - F Kelly.
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