In HL Division 2B, Kildare kickstarted their campaign with a clinical 27-point victory (4-29 to 0-14) over Donegal at St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge.
David Herity’s men had received a bye for the opening round, but displayed no signs of rustiness as they raced six points clear courtesy of scores by Paul Divilly (two), the returning Declan Flaherty, Kevin Aherne and Brian Byrne (two).
Declan Coulter did his utmost to keep Donegal in contention, but a stoppage-time penalty from James Burke helped Kildare to establish a 1-12 to 0-5 interval cushion.
Burke subsequently added his second goal on the resumption, before Johnny Byrne and Conor Dowling added further goals to ease the hosts past their overwhelmed Ulster counterparts.