Donegal waltzed back to the top flight of the Allianz League with a comprehensive 13-point win over a listless Kildare at Fr Tierney Park in Ballyshannon yesterday.

Meath snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to take a major step in their quest for a return to top-tier football with this victory in driving snow at Páirc Tailteann yesterday.

There was a sensational ending to this fully-blooded Division 2 NFL encounter as a penalty goal from Barry Dardis in added time strengthened Meath’s promotion push at Pairc Tailteann.

Kieran McGeeney had to settle for a draw on his first return to Kildare as an opposing manager after Jimmy Hyland earned the home team a share of the spoils with the last kick of the game.

In the end, it was all too comfortable for Kerry. But it mattered little, the result they needed from Pearse Stadium didn't materialise.

Derry 2-14 Kildare 2-22

KILDARE 0-10 GALWAY 0-16: Galway warmed up for next week’s league final against Dublin with a stylish win over a totally demoralised Kildare side at St Conleth’s Park yesterday afternoon.

Kerry 0-19 Kildare 0-14: A sixth consecutive league defeat means Kildare will spend next spring in Division 2.

Meanwhile, Tipperary hurling manager Michael Ryan has handed a first league start to corner-forward Cian Darcy.

Donegal 1-16 Kildare 3-7: Donegal’s poorest performance of Division 1 this term was still enough to post a first win, at Kildare’s expense.

Donegal came through something of a must-win to give themselves a fighting chance of Division 1 survival at Kildare’s expense at Ballyshannon.

The Dubs will be a different story altogether in the decider.

Kildare have coasted through a Leinster football semi-final on the back of the most facile of victories over an utterly insipid Laois side in Tullamore this afternoon.

Galway 0-18 Kildare 0-16: The increasing depth of this Galway panel means Kevin Walsh has an interesting nine weeks ahead of him in attempting to piece together his strongest team.

Derry 1-18 Kildare 1-17: Kildare manager Cian O’Neill was left furious after a controversial Emmett McGuckin goal in injury time saw Derry end the Lilywhites’ perfect start to life back in Division Two.

Tyrone chairperson Roisin Jordan has insisted the county executive is fully behind Mickey Harte and his team, and fully supportive of their efforts to win a first All-Ireland title since 2008.

A powerful 10-minute burst at the end of the first-half – during which the home outfit hit 2-3 on the bounce – secured Mayo’s place in the fourth round qualifier draw on Monday morning.

Kildare just about held out at the end of a pedestrian game to set up a Leinster semi-final with Westmeath or Offaly.

Clare 2-17 Kildare 1-19: The joy was evident and there were plenty celebrations but perhaps the most notable aspect of this historic victory for Clare was the absence of delirium.

Clare produced a rousing finish to beat Kildare in a high-scoring Allianz Football League Division 3 final at Croke Park.

Captain Bryan Sheehan starts at right half-forward as one of two changes to the Kerry side for Sunday’s Allianz FL Division 1 final against Dublin at Croke Park (throw-in 3.30pm).

Crescent CC Limerick 17 CBC Cork 7: Three years of disappointment ended for patient Crescent College Comprehensive when they finally garnered a seventh Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Junior Cup title in yesterday’s final replay over battling Christian Brothers College, Cork, at Thomond Park.

Kildare 0-22 Clare 1-14: Despite losing out to Kildare in a high-octane shootout, Clare will still join their conquerors in Division 2 next year.

CBC Cork 16 Crescent CC Limerick 16: A magnificent Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Junior Cup final between two quality teams ended in a draw at Musgrave Park yesterday and the schools will meet again on April 6 at Thomond Park to settle the issue.

Sligo 2-15 Kildare 2-14: Sligo boss Niall Carew came back to haunt his home county as his side ended Kildare’s perfect run in this Division 3 campaign at St Conleth’s Park yesterday.

Galway may be heading for Armagh on Sunday, but on Monday, they will be going to the sun and a five-day warm weather training camp.

Kildare 1-11 Limerick 1-10: Kildare recorded their fourth successive win in Division 3 at St Conleths Park yesterday to put them firmly on course for an immediate return to Division 2, but manager Cian O’Neill was left deeply unimpressed by their performance.

St Munchin’s 7 - CBC 10

Concerns that James O'Donoghue has done further damage to the right shoulder he had surgery on last November overshadowed this comprehensive Kerry All-Ireland quarter-final victory.