WICKLOW footballers clinched promotion to Division Three with a comprehensive 14-point drubbing of a depleted Carlow side at Dr Cullen Park yesterday. the Division four champions winning out on a scoreline of 1-16 to 0-5.

The game's only goal arrived on the stroke of half-time with Fergal Mulligan applying the finishing touches to a fine move.

Wicklow full-forward Kevin O'Brien kicked three of his seven points within three minutes of the restart and after that it was plain sailing for the visitors.

Eamonn Coleman's Longford virtually assured themselves of the second promotion slot with a 2-9 to 0-8 win over Tipperary at Pearce Park.

Although Tipperary, had the better of the exchanges in the first half, it was Longford who led at the break by the minimum of margins - 1-4 to 0-6 - thanks to a listed goal by Michael Kiernan in the 22nd minute.

The home side eventually made victory safe with an opportunism goal from teenager Trevor Smullen 10 minutes from time. A win at home to London on March 10th will guarantee them promotion.

Offaly ensured that it will go to the last round of matches by beating Limerick by 1-10 to 1-8 at Askeaton. Two points in the closing minutes by David Reynolds gave victory to the visitors, but even they must now feel it is too little too late.

On Saturday Kilkenny earned their first points of the campaign with a 0-15 to 1-10 win over London at Ruislip.

Kilkenny led by four points at half-time and, though London mounted a fightback, the Noresiders, for whom freetaker Ken O'Shea was in fine form, finished the stronger.