Goals in either half from Ronan Walsh and Tom Doyle were sufficient as Kerry overcame Meath 2-18 to 0-18 in Trim to secure promotion to Division 1B for the 2027 season.
John Griffin's side were clear favourites to take the second promotion spot heading into the final round of games, their vastly superior score difference advantage over Westmeath meaning a win this afternoon would guarantee their place in the second tier.
Meath, with three wins from five, technically weren't out of the hunt for promotion though they were dependent on Mayo shocking Westmeath in Castlebar.
The away side were out of the blocks quickly, Walsh's 13th-minute penalty putting them 1-03 to 0-01 ahead.
They were hit with a blow when the prolific Oisín Maunsell picked up a hamstring injury, though he was replaced by Podge Boyle, making his first appearance of the campaign.
Boyle, Jordan Brick and Liam Óg O'Connor were among those to float over points from play, with Tom Shine's frees keeping the hosts vaguely in touch. Kerry led 1-12 to 0-08 at the break.
Wing-forward Tom Doyle buried a goal in the top corner In the 39th minute to push Kerry nine points clear and promotion seemed inevitable.
It was a struggle for Kerry from there, who were wasteful in the closing stages, though Meath were unable to build enough momentum to get within striking distance.
Meath got it back to five points down the stretch, but Colin Walsh whipped over the final score as Kerry won 2-18 to 0-18 to seal their return to 1B.
Division 2: Final table
Elsewhere, Westmeath improved their score difference substantially with a 26-point win over Mayo, but it was never going to be near enough to overhaul Kerry.
Darragh McCormack and Peter Clarke found the net as the Midlanders racked up 2-37 and conceded 1-14 in their final league outing. However, a defeat to Laois, a draw with Kerry in Tralee and narrow victories elsewhere - notably a one-point win over relegated Derry in Mullingar - meant they fell short of promotion.
As expected, the result confirmed Mayo's inevitable relegation, the chances of overcoming London on score difference being close to non-existent in any case.
In Division 2's other game, Laois conclude their campaign with a 100% record, running out 3-27 to 1-22 winners over London in Ruislip.
The table-toppers had two goals on the board in the first five minutes, courtesy of Cormac Byrne and Fionn Holland. Gearóid Lynch fired the third on the 20th minute as Laois sealed a sixth successive victory with a degree of comfort.
In Division 3, Donegal came out on top of what was essentially a straight shoot-out for promotion as they got the better of Roscommon on a 3-20 to 0-19 scoreline at King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park.
The damage for the hosts was done in the first half as the Tir Chonaill side found the net three times, goals from Josh Cronolly-McGee, Richie Ryan (2) giving them a 3-10 to 0-12 lead.
Conor Morris did point on the restart for Roscommon, but a trio of Liam Óg McKinney frees extended Donegal's advantage and they were never threatened after that.
Joining the Ulster side in Division 2 next season are Wicklow who hammered Louth 3-27 to 0-11.
Division 3: Final table
Fionn Darcy scored an early goal for the hosts and Eoin McCormack added another before the break in this one-sided contest. Darcy, who scored freely all afternoon, got his second goal heading into the final quarter.
Armagh and Fermanagh were both already down prior to the final round, but they both at least ended up with a point after a 0-21 to 1-18 draw at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds.
A small bonus for the Erne County is they avoid the wooden spot. The sides’ scoring difference was identical, but Fermanagh scored more across their games.
In Division 4, where everything was already settled, Longford and Sligo met in a dress rehearsal of their league final with the Connacht side winning 4-25 to 3-11.
Michael Mulcahy (2) and Joe Rabbitt got the goals for the hosts, with Sligo’s four coming from Andrew Kilcullen, who finished with a trio of green flags, and Roberty O’Kelly-Lynch.
Cavan were 1-16 to 0-15 winners over neighbours Monaghan – Mark Moffett with the first-half goal – while Warwickshire were 1-17 to 2-12 winners of Lancashire.
Division 4: Final table
