Down's excellent start to life in Division 2 continued with a commanding 2-26 to 0-13 win over Derry at Owenbeg.
The opening 15 minutes were even as the sides split eight points, but Down hit seven points in a row with Tom McGrattan continuing his good form as they led double scores at the break, 0-14 to 0-07.
Ronan Sheehan’s side, who started their campaign with an impressive win over Kildare, opened their legs in the second half with Tim Prenter goaling in the 36th minute with Eoghan Sands adding a second six minutes later.
McGrattan continued to add to his tally with Pearse Óg McCrickard, Daithí Sands and defender Caolan Taggart amongst their other scores in a one-sided second half.
Kildare responded to that opening-day defeat in Ballycran with a comprehensive 2-28 to 0-17 win over Kerry in Newbridge.
The visitors took the lead but a rapid 1-03 from the hosts gave them a solid platform with Cathal Dowling scoring a fine goal.
Shane Conway was keeping Kerry in touch though and they trailed by just three points, 1-07 to 0-07, with 10 minutes to go before the break, but the Lilywhites hit a purple patch with David Qualter firing over a succession of scores to ensure a 1-14 to 0-08 interval lead.
Kerry hit the first two points of the second half, but Qualter found the net in the 39th minute to effectively end the game as a contest.
From there, Kildare continued to add to their tally with Qualter - who finished with 1-13 - prominent in the scoring, Conway offering some resistance for Kerry at least.
Wicklow and London both opened their Division 3 campaigns with victories, and it was the Exiles who made it two from two with a dramatic 1-18 to 1-17 win in Aughrim.
Warren Kavanagh and Seánie Germaine had early scores for the Garden County, but Neil Rogers’s side hit 1-02 without reply – David Devine with the green flag – to move ahead.
Wicklow’s response was instant though, Padraig Doyle with a 10th-minute goal, and the tight nature of the game continued to the break with London holding a two-point advantage.
Wicklow whittled that down on the resumption, free-taker Germaine keeping the scoreboard ticking over for the hosts, and with 15 minutes left the sides were level – 1-14 to 1-14.
After sharing the next four points, Wicklow moved back ahead for the first time since the opening skirmishes through another Germanine free as the game ticked into the red.
It was the Exiles who finished strongly though with Devine, from a free, levelling matters before Declan Dawson nabbed the winner.
Also in Division 3, Cavan had an eye-catching 1-17 to 1–12 win over Sligo as their hurling ascension continued.
Liam O’Brien had four points to his name inside 10 minutes for the hosts with Conor Hanniffy and Andrew Kilcullen responding for Sligo.
O’Brien added a few more points as Cavan moved four clear, and they maintained that advantage after Kilcullen missed a penalty.
Kilcullen made amends in the 29th minute with a goal to draw the sides level, but Cavan finished the half with a trio of points to lead by three.
Canice Maher doubled that advantage when netting with the first score of the second half and while Kilcullen and Hannify tried their best to get the Yeats County back in the game, it was Cavan who deservedly took the spoils.
In Division 4, Louth beat Ulster opposition for the second week running as they defeated Monaghan 2-23 to 0-11 in Emyvale having opened up with a win against Fermanagh.
The Wee County led 0-11 to 0-07 at the break with second-half goals from Peter Fortune and Sam Phelan allowing them to streak clear of the hosts, who ended the game with 14 players.
