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Down are all but promoted to Division Two thanks to a 1-18 to 1-15 victory over Fermanagh at Pairc Esler.
Laois' unlikely win over Westmeath means that Conor Laverty's side, who have won all five of their Division Three fixtures, have all but secured promotion with two games to spare.
The result also means that Down are virtually guaranteed to play Sam Maguire football this summer, barring Clare shocking the All-Ireland champions Kerry in the Munster semi-final.
Fermanagh will need to win both of their final two fixtures, Laois (home) and Limerick (away) to have any chance of avoiding relegation, and a first spell in the Division Four since 2011.
Declan Bonner's side were second best for the opening half with Down's Pat Havern enjoying a fruitful spell with five points.
The Mournemen found the net after 21 minutes through Odhran Murdock. After Shaun McCarron gifted possession away to Murdock deep in his own half, Miceal Rooney forced a fine save from Sean McNally before Burren's Murdock fired the rebound to the net.
It gave Down a comprehensive 1-10 to 0-7 lead at half-time, with the Ernesiders fortunate to trail by only six at the break.
They came out fighting at the start of the second half as four unanswered points, including a two point effort from Darragh McGurn, cut the deficit to three points.
Havern, Callum Rogers and Liam Kerr restored Down's lead, before a black card for McGurn with five left to play looked to compounded the visitors woes.
Ronan McCaffrey gave his side a lifeline with a well taken goal as the game entered five minutes of additional time.
Eamon Brown received a late black card for the Mourne men as McGurn returned to action, but Down held on to seal the victory.
Down: Ronan Burns; Peter Fegan, Pierce Laverty, Callum Rogers (0-2); Shane Annett, Ryan Magill, Daniel Guinness; Odhran Murdock (1-2), Ryan McEvoy; Adam Crimmins (0-4), Ceilum Doherty (0-1), Miceal Rooney; Tom Close, Pat Havern (0-7 2f), John McGeough.
Subs: Eamon Brown (0-1 1m) for M Rooney (29), Liam Kerr (0-1 1f) for J McGeough (51), Barry O'Hagan for T Close (60), Ruairi O'Hare for P Havern (67)
Fermanagh: Sean McNally; Jonathan Cassidy, Oisin Smyth, Luke Flanagan (0-1); Shane McGullion, Ronan McCaffrey (1-1), Josh Largo Elis; Brandon Horan, Darragh McGurn (0-5 1x2pt); Joe McDade, Shaun McCarron, Aogan Kelm; Cian O'Brien (0-1 1f), Garvan Jones (0-2 2f), Conor Love (0-2).
Subs: Declan McCusker (0-1) for S McCarron (22), Ciaran Corrigan (0-1) for A Kelm (34), Mattie McDermott (0-1) for C O'Brien (46), Conor McGee for B Horan (54), Conor O'Hanlon for C Love (67)
Referee: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary)
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Laois' unlikely win over Westmeath means that Conor Laverty's side, who have won all five of their Division Three fixtures, have all but secured promotion with two games to spare.
The result also means that Down are virtually guaranteed to play Sam Maguire football this summer, barring Clare shocking the All-Ireland champions Kerry in the Munster semi-final.
Fermanagh will need to win both of their final two fixtures, Laois (home) and Limerick (away) to have any chance of avoiding relegation, and a first spell in the Division Four since 2011.
Declan Bonner's side were second best for the opening half with Down's Pat Havern enjoying a fruitful spell with five points.
The Mournemen found the net after 21 minutes through Odhran Murdock. After Shaun McCarron gifted possession away to Murdock deep in his own half, Miceal Rooney forced a fine save from Sean McNally before Burren's Murdock fired the rebound to the net.
It gave Down a comprehensive 1-10 to 0-7 lead at half-time, with the Ernesiders fortunate to trail by only six at the break.
They came out fighting at the start of the second half as four unanswered points, including a two point effort from Darragh McGurn, cut the deficit to three points.
Havern, Callum Rogers and Liam Kerr restored Down's lead, before a black card for McGurn with five left to play looked to compounded the visitors woes.
Ronan McCaffrey gave his side a lifeline with a well taken goal as the game entered five minutes of additional time.
Eamon Brown received a late black card for the Mourne men as McGurn returned to action, but Down held on to seal the victory.
Down: Ronan Burns; Peter Fegan, Pierce Laverty, Callum Rogers (0-2); Shane Annett, Ryan Magill, Daniel Guinness; Odhran Murdock (1-2), Ryan McEvoy; Adam Crimmins (0-4), Ceilum Doherty (0-1), Miceal Rooney; Tom Close, Pat Havern (0-7 2f), John McGeough.
Subs: Eamon Brown (0-1 1m) for M Rooney (29), Liam Kerr (0-1 1f) for J McGeough (51), Barry O'Hagan for T Close (60), Ruairi O'Hare for P Havern (67)
Fermanagh: Sean McNally; Jonathan Cassidy, Oisin Smyth, Luke Flanagan (0-1); Shane McGullion, Ronan McCaffrey (1-1), Josh Largo Elis; Brandon Horan, Darragh McGurn (0-5 1x2pt); Joe McDade, Shaun McCarron, Aogan Kelm; Cian O'Brien (0-1 1f), Garvan Jones (0-2 2f), Conor Love (0-2).
Subs: Declan McCusker (0-1) for S McCarron (22), Ciaran Corrigan (0-1) for A Kelm (34), Mattie McDermott (0-1) for C O'Brien (46), Conor McGee for B Horan (54), Conor O'Hanlon for C Love (67)
Referee: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary)
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