On the tight confines of St Conleth's Park, and on a perfect day for football the home team made John Joe Doherty's men look very ordinary. In truth Donegal were a pale shadow of the team that retained the Dr McKenna with five unbeaten games before putting up big scores against Westmeath and Laois in their opening two league outings.

In fairness to Kildare they were probably are good bit better than all others (apart from Tyrone) put to the sword by Donegal so far in 2010.

Certainly if this tie is a yardstick, Kildare are streets ahead of their provincial neighbours Laois and Westmeath. At times on Sunday they looked like world beaters as they pinned Donegal back in their own half and kicked points with considerable ease.

The midfield dominance of Dermot Earley and Daryl Flynn apart, they were stronger on the ball and in the tackle and their forwards moved with great purpose and to great effect to carve the openings.

Despite getting the ball rolling with the game's opening score from Michael Murphy inside a minute the first half was not a good one for Donegal. Kildare were by the superior side and they went in six points to the good 1-8 to 1-2.

Murphy, who was watched once again by Australian Rules coach Ricky Nixon, got the visitors off the mark when he converted from 20 metres after he was fouled himself inside a minute. But it was all Kildare for the next 22 minutes as they hit 1-5 without reply courtesy of points from Ken Donnelly, and two each from John Doyle and Karl Ennis, with both of Ennis strikes from frees.

Gary White sank the dagger in with the Kildare goal on 20 minutes. The centre back was picked out by Karl Ennis in front of the posts and from the edge of the rectangle he beat Michael Boyle despite the best efforts of Neil Gallagher.

Leading 1-5 to 0-1, Kildare were rampant and playing with a swagger. And indeed but for a good block and interception from James Keaney, Padraig O'Neill could have netted a second Kildare three pointer minutes later.

Just when it seemed the locals were going to run away with it Donegal were thrown a lifeline when Fergal McNulty and David Walsh combined for a goal to bring their side right back into the game.

On 23 minutes a McNulty attempt for a point dropped short and Walsh following up, claimed afterwards that he got a touch as keeper Thomas Corley was guilty of taking his eye off the ball and it ended up in the back of the net.

When Leo McLoone, with his first touch, kicked Donegal's second point five minutes later the margin was back to a manageable four points.