Derry 1-09 Kildare 2-17

Kildare's season took another positive turn at Celtic Park, where they handed out a heavy defeat to book their place in the last 12 of the All-Ireland SFC.

This resounding 11 points qualifier win leaves Derry in turmoil, with manager Damian Cassidy set to reflect on his position.

While the Lilywhites displayed a selfless work ethic, and had outstanding performances from Dermot Earley, Johnny Doyle (0-8) and Eamon Callaghan (1-4), the Oak Leafers were left to try and work out how they fell apart with the wind at their backs in the second half.

They got a perfect start with an early goal and led by five points, but failed to build on that impressive opening, allowing the Leinster men to boss the game and win at a canter.

The game was just over a minute old when Raymond Wilkinson pounced to drill the ball to the roof of the net from close range after the Kildare defence failed to clear when Eoin Bradley's free dropped short.

Bradley added a point, and James Kielt converted a free for a 1-2 to 0-0 lead. Kildare didn't get their first score until the 12th minute when Doyle was on target from a free, but they were building slowly and confidently, and the team captain added three more scores from placed balls, and hit a point from play to give Kildare the lead for the first time in the 23rd minute.

Centre back Emmet Bolton pushed forward to knock over a score, and as they defended with discipline, Derry struggled to create openings, and went 20 minutes without adding to that early scoring blitz.

Declan Mullan and Bradley got them back level, and they could have had a second goal when Mark Lynch crossed from the left to Wilkinson, but his shot was blocked by Andrew MacLochlainn.

Padraig O'Neill's point sent Kildare in with a 0-8 to 1-4 lead, and while Derry got their noses in front briefly early in the second half, their challenge died.

Callaghan regained the lead, before Padraig O'Neill's second point saw them take a two points advantage into the final quarter.

Substitute Eoin O'Flaherty stretched the advantage and full back Hugh McGrillen also drove forward to score.

Earley was a dominant figure at midfield, and Kildare killed the game off with Callaghan's 60th minute goal.

And they made it a landslide win with a second goal from Alan Smith two minutes from the end.

Derry: B Gillis, B Og McAlary, K McGuckin, D McBride, B McGoldrick, G O'Kane, C Kielt, J Diver, E Muldoon (0-1, '45), C McKeever, J Kielt (0-2, 1f), D Mullan (0-1), E Bradley (0-3), M Lynch (0-2, 2f), R Wilkinson (1-0).
Subs: P Bradley for C Kielt (h-t), SL McGoldrick for Wilkinson ( 52), C Kielt for P Bradley (61), M Craig for McKeever (64)

Kildare: S McCormack, P Kelly, H McGrillen (0-1), A Mac Lochlainn, M O'Flaherty, E Bolton (0-1), B Flanagan, D Flynn, D Earley, J Kavanagh, P O'Neill (0-2), T O'Connor, J Doyle (0-8, 6f), R Sweeney, E Callaghan (1-4).
Subs: A Smith for O'Connor (8), E O'Flaherty (0-1) for Sweeney (50), D Lyons for Bolton (56), K Donnelly for Kavanagh (64)

Referee: M Duffy (Sligo)