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.

Longford, Offaly and Westmeath delivered victories, with Carlow also beginning brightly this afternoon.

For the eighth time since 2001 the Kildare SFC final will be a Newbridge derby between Moorefield and Sarsfields after both won their semi-finals.

Twelve months ago against Mayo in the famous ‘Newbridge or Nowhere’ Qualifier, quality Kildare forwards like Niall Kelly, Paddy Brophy, Paul Cribben, and Daniel Flynn were inspirational.

One week after the width of the goalpost saved Kildare from Leinster championship elimination at the hands of Longford in Tullamore, the two sides returned to Bord na Móna O’Connor Park and played out a game that couldn’t have been any more of a contrast.

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

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.

Kildare 1-16 Longford 1-13

Kildare claimed their first win in 12 months, with a richly deserved eight-point qualifier win over Derry.

Inter-county managers like to have every last detail relating to their team planned and prepared as best they can. Kildare’s Cian O’Neill is a self-confessed ‘data geek’ and someone who prides himself on the small details, so you can be sure that he steps through every part of gameday in his head in the lead-up to a match.

Kerry 0-19 - Kildare 0-14: A first win in four games. A first victory on home soil since January 28 and a first clean-sheet since July of 2017. Significant daylight put between themselves and the relegation zone. All in all, not a bad evening’s work for Kerry.

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

Ciarán Kilkenny will spend the coming months scanning the horizon, weighing up exactly where the greatest threats to Dublin’s four-in-a-row bid will come from.

Three weeks of it so, poking and prodding this Gulliver of a football team, Mayo and the rest of us mulling over the questions Tyrone failed abysmally to pose of Dublin yesterday.

Jamie Clarke was in sublime form as Armagh marched into next Saturday’s All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin or Tyrone.

Kevin Feely doesn’t know what better way to put why he waved goodbye on a career across the Irish Sea.

Paddy Brophy was standing on the fine white sand of City Beach in Perth, the impossibly blue waters of the Indian Ocean stretching beyond the horizon before him, when he arrived at the decision to come home.

Kildare football manager Cian O’Neill has urged supporters to cut Paddy Brophy some slack and give him the necessary time to readjust to life as a Gaelic footballer again.

GPA national executive member Ronan Sweeney accepts players who come home from unsuccessful AFL stints face a challenging return.

This Thursday evening Castleknock play in their first senior football semi-final. Formed in 1998, they truly are the nouveau riche of Dublin GAA. Their story is a heartening one, their defiance to make their presence felt in west Dublin all the more impressive with the mammoth St Brigid’s for company.

Former Kildare footballer Paddy Brophy will have a role to play in the AFL Grand Final, even if it is not in a playing capacity.

Sunday: Croke Park, 2pm Referee: D Coldrick TV: RTÉ Two Bet: Kerry 1/6, Kildare 9/2, Draw 12/1

It wasn’t so long ago that Dublin’s full-back line was regarded as its weakest trio.

As a loyal Kildare servant, Damien Hendy has become accustomed to criticism.

In one of the many great scenes in the film On The Waterfront, Charlie played by Rod Steiger, tells his younger brother, Terry (Marlon Brando) that he needs to be getting up a bit in the world — "You’re getting on. You’re pushing 30. You know, it’s time to think about getting some ambition," says Charlie.

Eamonn Callaghan says Kildare have been forced to view the championship as a completely new season after a disastrous league campaign ended with relegation to Division 3.

Paddy Brophy will play his first senior game for West Coast Eagles in a pre-season fixture against the Indigenous All Stars this morning.

This time last year, Paddy Brophy was training in the wind and rain ahead of the O’Byrne Cup final.

Former Kildare underage star Seán Hurley wants to follow in the footsteps of Tadhg Kennelly and conquer the Australia Football League.

Former Kildare underage star Seán Hurley wants to follow in the footsteps of Tadhg Kennelly and conquer the Australia Football League.

Two more young Gaelic footballers are set to leave these shores to pursue a professional career in Aussie Rules.

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.

Mayo 3-14 Galway 0-16

Meath footballer Kevin Reilly has hit out at Jason Ryan’s criticism of his tackle on Paddy Brophy in last Sunday week’s Leinster |semi-final, claiming the incident has been "blown out of all proportion".

Meath manager Mick O’Dowd has taken a thinly-veiled swipe at Jason Ryan for his criticism of Kevin Reilly’s tackle on Paddy Brophy in last Sunday week’s Leinster semi-final.

Meath 2-16 Kildare 0-17