Fermanagh ... 1-13 Kildare ... 1-9: Raymond Gallagher, a late call-up, celebrated his return to 70-minute football with a goal in the opening minute to send Fermanagh on their way to victory.

By half-time Kildare trailed by 1-4 to 1-8 and they had good reason to regret a glaring goal miss in the 20th minute. Tadgh Fennin was the culprit, screwing the ball wide from close range.

His fellow forwards in the first half, however, were generally well marked by a Fermanagh defence which had difficulties on the resumption. In this early second-half period Kildare reduced the margin to a point (1-8 to 1-7) with points from Leonard Donlon (two) and midfielder Killian Brennan.

What Kildare needed badly was a goal which, when it came, was a superbly finished effort in the 22nd minute by David Jordan, who pulled on the ball first time as it was fisted clear and his shot flew into the net.

Having overcome this setback, the Fermanagh defence recovered their equilibrium and in the end Kildare had to make do with two Fennin points.

FERMANAGH: D Feely; K Gunn, P McGuinness, M Lilly; S Burns, J Gilheeney (0-1), N Cox; M Greene, L McBarron (0-1); R Johnston, Rory Gallagher (0-4), T Brewster; K Donnelly (0-1), Raymond Gallagher (1-3), C Bradley (0-3). Subs: C Fitzpatrick for Burns, R McCabe for Bradley, S McDermott for Brewster, M McGrath for Donnelly.

KILDARE: E Murphy; K Duane, R Quinn, K Doyle; T Harris, A Rainbow, M Wright; K Brennan (0-1), A Harris; P Murray, K O'Dwyer (0-2), B Moylan (0-1); T Fennin (0-2), L Donlon (0-2), D Jordan (1-1). Subs: R Sweeney for O'Dwyer (injured), B Murphy for Murray, C Quinn for Brennan.

Referee: D Kinneavey (Roscommon).