Monaghan tasted their first league success with a surprise win over Kildare at Newbridge.

Kildare just shaded the first half 1-5 to 06, their goal coming from David Hughes.

Five minutes into the second half James McElroy fired home from close range to put Monagahan in the lead and they pressed home their advantage with further points form Darren Farmer and Gary Meehan.

David Earley set up John Doyle for the Lilywhites' second goal after 60 minutes to cut the deficit to the minimum but a Tom Freeman point edged Monaghan two points clear and Declan Smyth made sure with the final score.

MONAGHAN: S Duffy; M. McBride, D McDermott, N Marron; P McKenna, J P Mone, D McArdle; J Hughes, J McElroy (1- 1); D Farmer (0-1), D Smyth (0-4), D Clerkin (0-2); D Freeman (0-1), G Meehan (0-2), D Swift (0-1). Subs: T Freeman (0-1) for Farmer.

KILDARE: C Byrne; J Bracken, R Quinn, P Mullarkey; D Hughes (1-0), W McCreery, M Wright; Dermot Earley (0-3), K Brennan; M Browne, J Doyle (1-2), C O'Reilly; Tadgh Fennin (0-1), J Gilroy, David Earley (0-1). Subs: K O'Dwyer for Browne, T Rossiter for Fennin (inj), J Finn for Mullarkey.

Referee: D Joyce (Galway).