This re-match of last year's All-Ireland final pairing drew a big crowd to Tuam Stadium yesterday and a very entertaining challenge game produced some fine moves and excellent scores.

The sides were level five times in the first half which finished with the visitors one point ahead, 0-8 to 0-7. Full forward Cathal Sheridan got four of those points for Kildare, while Galway forwards Paul Clancy, Derek Savage and Niall Finnegan also got some fine scores.

Galway played some wonderful football in the third quarter to go 0-12 to 0-8 ahead and when Savage netted Galway's only goal, it looked as if an easy win was on the cards.

However, Kildare showed their fighting qualities with a determined finish that brought them to within one point of the home side thanks to a Declan Kerrigan goal.

Galway: L Kelly; R Doyle, D Mitchell, T Meehan; D Meehan, T Joyce, S Og de Paor; S Gavin, S Walsh; P Clancy (0-2), J Fallon (0-2), M O Callarain; D Savage (1-3), P Joyce (0-1), N Finnegan (0-6). Subs: S O Domhnaill for Gavin; M Newell for O'Callarain.

Kildare: C Byrne; B Lacey, R Quinn, K Doyle; D Maher, G Ryan, J Finn; W McCreery, P McCormack (0-1); E McCormack (0-2), D Kerrigan (1-2), D Earley; P Brennan (0-2), C Sheridan (0-5), M Lynch. Subs: B French for Lynch; M Ryan for Finn.

Referee: M Curley (Galway).