Division Two B/ Down 1-10; Kildare 0-13: A masterly performance from midfielder Dermot Earley salvaged Kildare's unbeaten record, at Newcastle yesterday. Kildare's prospects looked bleak as Down extended their 0-4 to 0-3 half-time lead by two points within a couple of minutes of the restart.

With corner forwards Daniel Hughes and Ronan Sexton torturing the Kildare defence,Down had been much the livelier team up until that stage.

Then Earley rose to the challenge; veteran Glen Ryan also emerged as a Kildare hero as they surged forward and the Down defence finally buckled.

John Doyle didn't shoot Kildare's first point from play until the 43rd minute, but that was to put his side in front for the first time. Doyle stretched that lead to two points but the game took yet another turn when Down manager Paddy O'Rourke introduced Michael Walsh for his first game of the season. His impact was immediate. His first kick sent the ball goalwards and Dan Gordon rose to fist it to the net.

Down went 1-10 0-11 ahead with points from Gordon and Hughes. But there were still twists to come as late substitute Ciarán Dempsey grabbed points in the 69th and 70th minutes to earn a draw for the visitors.

Down go through to the semi-finals as a consequence of Wicklow's defeat in Belfast.

DOWN: M McVeigh; M Higgins, A Molloy, A Scullion; M Cole, Seán Ward, S Farrell; D Gordon (1-1), G McCartan (0-2); L Doyle (0-2), Shane Ward, G McCrickard; R Sexton (0-1), S Kearney, D Hughes (0-4). Subs: M Walsh for G McCrickard; K King for Shane Ward.

KILDARE: P Flood; B Lacey, D Hendy, D Lyons; E Gallaghan, G Ryan, K Ennis; D Earley (0-1), A Barry; P Hurley, M O'Sullivan, R Sweeney; P Brennan (0-3), P Donnelly, J Doyle (0-7). Subs: T Rossitter for P Hurley; C Dempsey (0-2) for R Sweeney; E Fitzpatrick for D. Lyons.

Referee: Séamus McCormack (Meath).