Antrim enjoyed an emphatic victory in their last championship bout, earning a 17-point victory over Joe McDonagh finalists Carlow at Corrigan Park.
The hosts got up and running with five early points without reply as Keelan Molloy and James McNaughton both striking.
Paddy Bolan had the first chance at a sight on goal, but his effort was blocked by Stephen Rooney after the Antrim cornerback put his body on the line to deny the goal-bound effort.
Antrim found the first major of the contest after a mix-up in the Carlow back line saw Niall Bolger unable to retrieve the sliotar, and the Saffrons forward Joseph McLaughlin pounced on the mistake.
The Cushendall man saw the space in front of him and his run brought him to the net as he drilled an effort low into the ground. Antrim looked to have found a second when McNaughton's effort flashed off the upright.
John Michael Nolan suffered a setback which caused concern. The forward was carted from the field of play.
Carlow did find some comfort with a rallying of frees from deadball positions, Ruairi Murphy’s sharp shooting keeping them within touching distance.
Antrim were hungry though. Gerard Walsh found Keelan Molloy for a second goal, as the Dunloy man hammered his shot beyond Kyle Foley in the Carlow net.
Walsh then attempted to one-up his teammate as he struck a monstrous point from 70 yards to tally the point of the afternoon.
As the half-time whistle blew, 12 points separated the sides, with Antrim relying on a favour from London in their tie with Laois, but business at home had to be taken care of first and foremost.
The Saffrons found a third goal when Ruairi Donaghy made his substitute appearance worthwhile with an instant impact in the second half.
The game was far from the same intensity of the first period, but eventually Carlow found some form and Ruairi Murphy’s terrific free-scoring kept them in it.
In the 50th minute Carlow found the net when Ruairi Murphy managed to catch the ball in space and drill into the Antrim net.
The Saffrons finished strongly, scores from Keelan Molloy, James McNaughton and Paul Boyle rounded off a great end to the campaign, and a perfect send-off to Antrim star Stephen Rooney in his final appearance.
Antrim: Cormac McFadden; Ruairi McCormick, Niall O’Connor, Stephen Rooney; Oísin Donnelly, Joe Maskey, Gerard Walsh (0-01); Ryan McCambridge (0-02), Paul Boyle (0-03); Conall Bohill, Keelan Molloy (1-05), James McNaughton 0-13 (10f); Jack McCloskey, Conal Cunning, Joseph McLaughlin
Subs: Ruairi Donaghy (1-00) for Jack McCloskey (11), Scott Walsh (0-01) for Conall Bohill (49), Rory McCloskey on for Oisin Donnelly (55), Cormac McKeown on for Paul Boyle (60), Ben McGarry on for Keelan Molloy (66)
Carlow: Kyle Foley; Lorcan Doyle, Niall Bolger, Conaill Fitzpatrick; Tadhg O’Neill, Richard Coady, Paidi O’Shea; Eric English (0-01), Colm Beck (0-01); Jake Nolan, Ted Joyce, John Doyle (0-04); Paddy Bolan, John Michael Nolan, Ruairi Murphy (1-08, 8f)
Subs: Colm Kavanagh (0-01) for John Michael Nolan (24), Paddy Bolan for Conor Carew (40), Kevin Kavanagh for Ted Joyce (47), Jamie Wall for Paidi O’Shea (58)
Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)
Down had too much for Westmeath at McKenna Park, powering to a 1-28 to 1-18 victory.
It was nip and tuck in the opening period, with Ruairí McCrickard's 18th-minute goal for Down the difference when they headed down the tunnel at half-time, the Mounre men leading 1-11 to 0-11.
Down gradually peeled away from Westmeath on the turnaround, Donal Hughes, Ronan Beatty, Pearse Óg McCrickard and Finn Turpin all chipping in with scores.
Jack Gillen did fire to the net for Westmeath in injury time but was too little far too late. Down finish fourth in the table on six points, with Westmeath fifth on two points.
