A worthwhile exercise for both Kieran McGeeney and Jack O’Connor as the Lilywhites edged to victory at the official reopening of the Ballymacelligott GAA pitch on Saturday.

Kildare lost their Bord Na Móna O’Byrne Cup crown in Portlaoise last night after switching off in the second-half.

Kildare have opted to field a largely experimental line-up with nine players making their first starts for tonight’s Bord na Móna O’Byrne Cup final against DCU in Portlaoise.

KILDARE made light work of a desperately uncompetitive Offaly to set-up an O’Byrne Cup semi-final with All-Ireland champions Dublin that has an exciting feel to it, even at this early juncture of the season.

KEITH CRIBBIN struck at the death for Kildare to dramatically deny Louth silverware for the second time in six months.

KIERAN McGEENEY praised a referee yesterday but the Kildare boss had his tongue planted firmly in his cheek when offering kudos to Pat Fox for making this game exciting by giving DCU a host of scoreable frees.

Down 1-16 Kildare 1-14

NFL DIVISION 2:

GALWAY may have their work cut out with Colm Cooper at Pearse Stadium tomorrow, but Joe Kernan’s side will have another dangerous Dr Crokes corner-forward to contend with too.

THE three-week sabbatical had startlingly different effects on these two sides, with Kildare looking much like their old selves and Donegal but a pale shadow of the team that steamrolled Laois last time out.

Kildare 1-17 Donegal 1-9

AS Kerry last night named their side for tomorrow’s vital Allianz NFL Division 1 clash with Derry at Fitzgerald Stadium (2.30pm), the Kerry County Board confirmed the news that former Kingdom great John Egan is being treated at Cork University Hospital following a recent accident at his home in Cork.

KILDARE boss Kieran McGeeney described midfielder Daryl Flynn’s performance as “immense” at Semple Stadium on Saturday night.

Kildare 1-16 Tipperary 0-8

ALL-IRELAND champions Kerry have named just five of the team that started in last September’s victory over Cork for tomorrow’s NFL Division 1 opener against Dublin in Killarney.

LOUTH kept what is becoming a customary run of wins in January going by claiming the prized scalp of Kildare in Newbridge.

Dublin 2-15 Kildare 0-18

Kildare 2-18 Laois 0-09

DARRAGH Ó SÉ is included in the Kerry squad for the first time this season for tomorrow’s National Football League game against Galway (Austin Stack Park, Tralee, 2.30pm).

LIKE a cornered animal, Offaly have long been renowned as a team that is at its most dangerous when their backs were to the wall.

Kildare 0-15 Offaly 3-9

PAUL CARLEY is recalled to the Wexford team for Sunday’s Guinness Leinster SHC final against Kilkenny at Croke Park.

Kildare 0-14 Westmeath 0-11

Leinster champions Westmeath open the defence of their crown as they meet Kildare in the provincial quarter-final at Croke Park today.

Kildare boss Padraig Nolan has dropped five of the team that narrowly defeated Wicklow in the opening round for Sunday's Leinster SFC quarter-final against defending champions Westmeath at Croke Park.

Kildare 1-17 Wicklow 2-12

Wicklow 2-12 Kildare 1-17

Kildare boss Padraig Nolan has decided to keep faith with the same side that defeated Laois last weekend for today's National Football League Division 1B clash with Limerick in Newbridge.

Kildare 0-13 Laois 0-8

There are four matches down for decision in Division 1B of the National Football League today.

David Hughes has been recalled to the Kildare team for Sunday's National League clash against Galway in Pearse Stadium.

The O'Byrne Cup semi-finals are down for decision today, with Leinster finalists Laois hosting Kildare in Portlaoise.

Kildare have made several changes for Sunday's O'Byrne Cup semi-final against Laois in Portlaoise.

ALL-IRELAND champions Kerry will require the full breadth of their extended panel on Sunday for their first competitive fixture since September’s decider against Mayo.

The clash of Kildare and Meath is the tie of the round as the O'Byrne Cup quarter-finals are down for decision today.

Kildare boss Padraic Nolan has risked a potential fans revolt by axing both Glenn Ryan and Anthony Rainbow from his first team.

Offaly 1-15 Kildare 1-8

Kildare make just two defensive changes for their NFL clash with Down in Newcastle on Sunday.

WICKLOW football boss Hugh Kenny has demanded his dual players to decide between his squad or hurling.

Kildare boss Padraig Nolan has opted to draft in Derek McCormack to his first team in the hope of plundering two precious 1B points in Antrim this Sunday.