Kildare scored a qualifier win over Leinster rivals Meath at Pairc Tailteann to set up a round four clash with the losers of Sunday’s Ulster SFC final between Donegal and Derry.
A full-blooded derby encounter was in the balance right up until wing-back Emmet Bolton grabbed a second Lilywhite goal four minutes from the end.
Earlier, Johnny Doyle had netted a penalty to help Kieran McGeenney’s side to a two points interval lead.
The Royals battled back, with the help of a nine points haul from Cian Ward, to draw level twice in the second half, but their season ended on their own Navan turf as Kildare applied a strong finish.
Kildare struck an early blow when Doyle drilled home a penalty after Tomas O’Connor out-fielded Kevin Reilly, and was hauled down by the Meath full-back as he turned in on goal after just three minutes.
But the Royals were level by the seventh minute, with Cian Ward nailing a couple of scores and skipper Seamus Kenny applied the finishing touch to a patient build-up.
Joe Sheridan, playing in a withdrawn role, sprayed inch-perfect passes to the inside line, and Stephen Bray was the second to benefit from the big Seneschalstown man’s vision, shooting the home side ahead in the tenth minute.
Padraig O’Neill and Morgan O’Flaherty both found the target to ease Kildare into a 1-3 to 0-4 lead on 20 minutes, and as the pressure mounted on the Meath defence, Gary O’Brien and Caoimhin King had to be at their perceptive best to hold strong against the Lilywhite tide.
Kildare flooded bodies back to erect a wall in front of their full back line, breaking at pace to add to their tally through Fionn Dowling.
But Ward ensured that Meath would remain in touch, converting a free for his fifth score of the evening.
Kildare substitute James Kavanagh launched a superb effort from wide on the right as his side pushed three ahead, but the gap was down to two in stoppage time as Ward hit his sixth.
Kildare led by 1-6 to 0-7 at the break, but needed an excellent save from Shane Connolly to keep out Ward’s angled shot in the early stages of the second half, with the latter converting the resultant 45.
Now with the wind at their backs and the fans raising the volume, Meath went level in rousing fashion with superb scores from Shane O’Rourke and Kenny.
Emmet Bolton eased Kildare back in front, but that man Ward, with his eighth, had the sides deadlocked once again with a free on 55 minutes.
Shane O’Rourke won vital ball at midfield to keep Meath on the attack, but poor shot selection and wayward shooting meant they continued to chase the game, unable to find that elusive lead point.
Alarming gaps began to open up in the Royal rearguard, allowing Bolton and substitute Ronan Sweeney to nip in for points, with veteran Doyle still going strong in the middle.
And in the 66th minute, O’Connor slipped the ball inside for Bolton to punch home at the far post, bringing his tally to 1-2.
Meath, now five points behind, were in desperation territory, and while they did narrow the gap to three with points from Bray and Brian Farrell, Kildare held on.
Meath: B Murphy, G O’Brien, K Reilly, C King, C Lenehan, S McAnarney, M Burke, S O’Rourke (0-1), B Meade, P Gilsenan, J Sheridan, S Kenny (0-2), S Bray (0-2), G Reilly, C Ward (0-9, 5f, 2 ’45).
Subs: M Ward for Meade, B Farrell for Lenehan, J Queeney for G Reilly, A Moyles for Queeney, P O’Rourke for Kenny
Kildare: S Connolly, A MacLochlainn,. M Foley, H McGrillen (0-1), G White, M O’Flaherty (0-1), E Bolton (1-2), J Doyle (1-2, 1-0 pen, 0-2f), D Flynn, P O’Neill (0-1), E O’Flaherty, E Callaghan (0-1), R Kelly, T O’Connor, F Dowling (0-1).
Subs: J Kavanagh (0-1) for Kelly, B Flanagan for White, C Brophy for Dowling, R Sweeney (0-1) for O’Flaherty, O Lyons for Bolton
Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan).
