Davy Burke looks on during his side’s three-point defeat against Kerry on Saturday evening. Picture: INPHO/Ben Brady

Mayo senior football manager Kevin McStay did a huge favour for his former side this afternoon as the Division One League leaders consolidated their place at the top of the table with a comfortable victory against Donegal in Ballybofey.

Mayo’s facile 1-17 to 0-9 success means that it’s pretty much guaranteed that Roscommon will be playing Division One football in 2024, while Mayo will now have the chance to win the Division One title a week before they’re scheduled to play the Rossies in the Connacht quarter-final.

Donegal’s loss means that they will be relegated, while Roscommon superior scoring difference should ensure that they remain in the top flight — even if they were to lose to Donegal at Dr. Hyde Park next weekend.

However, Roscommon senior football manager Davy Burke is aiming to finish the league campaign on a high after losing the last three games on the back of a hat-trick of victories in the opening three games.

“It’s great to see for me that we are knocking at the door. Mayo could have blown us away and we didn’t let them, same with Kerry tonight. I think we are making strides.

“No one is safe though, I hope we can sort it out and move on. We need to win at the Hyde next week to get back on the winning track, not just to stay up. I don’t want to be a manager who wins the first three and then loses four in a row,” he told the Irish Examiner in the aftermath of last night’s three-point loss against All-Ireland champions Kerry in Tralee.