Clare dug deep to claim their first win of the National League campaign with a deserved one-point success over 14-man Kildare in Ennis.

It wasn’t always pretty, and there were times when it seemed like it would be Ryan McMenamin who would be leaving St Conleth's Park with a first league win for his new team, but Daniel Flynn’s 58th-minute goal proved crucial as Jack O’Connor began life in Kildare with a win.

Perhaps history will repeat itself and a Jack O'Connor-led team will bounce back from a loss to Longford with a strong season but, for now, it's frustration for the new Kildare manager.

Both sides kicked some wonderful points though remarkably, the second half of extra time yielded no score.

There was late drama as Wicklow footballers gave red-hot favourites Kildare a real fright at Netwatch Cullen Park this evening as the Leinster senior football championship got under way before an attendance of 3,800.

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.

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

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

Sigerson Cup: UCD 2-15 - NUI Maynooth 1-6: UCD manager John Divilly praised his side’s composure as last year’s beaten finalists saw off an erratic NUI Maynooth to open their Sigerson Cup campaign with a win.

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

Monaghan 2-16 Kildare 2-14 (aet)

ALL-IRELAND SFC ROUND 3B

Clare came within minutes of stunning Kildare at Cusack Park last night but in the end the Lilywhites' coolness in the final quarter and impressive fitness levels got them over the line.

LEINSTER SFC QUARTER-FINAL:

Kildare belied much of the pre-match portents of doom to crush Louth in Croke Park and cruise to a Leinster semi-final date with either Meath or Carlow.

Kildare 1-22 Westmeath 0-9

ALLIANZ FL DIV 1:

Kildare 0-15 Kerry 2-15, Newbridge

Eamonn Fitzmaurice has dismissed suggestions last Sunday’s defeat to Mayo was another example of a Kerry second-half fadeout.

Kildare 1-21 Tyrone 3-16

An excellent second-half performance from Cork gave them a second Allianz Football League Division 1 win as Kildare were beaten at Páirc Uí Rinn today.

Kerry make two changes from the team that lost to Dublin for tomorrow’s Division 1 round two clash with Derry in Killarney.

NUI Maynooth 2-19 IT Blanchardstown 1-5

Mayo GAA officials are “100% sure” Elverys will honour their sponsorship deal with the county despite the retail chain announcing it was going into receivership yesterday.

Kildare 1-10 Meath 0-09

The pre-season just keeps getting better for Kildare manager Jason Ryan.

Clare have included just two of their All-Ireland winning team in their side for tomorrow’s Waterford Crystal Cup quarter-final against Limerick in Sixmilebridge.

Garryowen 15 St Marys College 24

Nemo Rangers 0-10 Béal Áthan Ghaorthaidh 0-09

Blackrock 3-12 Nemo Rangers 4-08

Karl Lacey will make his first championship start of the season in Sunday’s Ulster final against Monaghan in Clones.

Kildare 1-19 Louth 0-15

Dublin 4-16 Kildare 1-9

Castletownbere 1-10 Nemo Rangers 0-09

Offaly 1-12 Kildare 0-19

Kildare 0-19 Offaly 1-12

Mallow 3-9 Nemo Rangers 2-10

St Mary’s College 19 Cork Constitution 24