GAA round-up:Meath looked to have found the key to stifling Kildare's customary second half flurry when reining in a two-point deficit after the break but a late cameo from Emmet Bolton saw the Lilywhites into the fourth round of the SFC qualifiers.
Kieren McGeeney’s side will meet either Donegal or Derry, neither of whom will scare this Kildare side.
The game was won by Emmet Bolton’s contribution of 1-02 in a three-minute scoring burst.
Prior to that Meath had looked like they may have got their opponent’s number, as Cian Ward and Shane O’Rourke helped drag the game back in Meath’s favour.
John Doyle opened the scoring for Kildare from the penalty spot after Tomás O’Connor was hauled down in the box but Meath stayed in touch with points from the impressive Ward and Stephen Bray.
Fionn Dowling scored a fine point, however, to push Kildare into a two-point lead. Doyle added another but Bray’s free reduced the gap before the break.
It was fiery start to the second period for Meath as the reeled Kildare in, but Bolton’s contribution and a point from Ronan Sweeney killed off the Royal revival at Páirc Tailteann.
Down were comfortable winners over Antrim as Conor Laverty, Martin Clarke and Caolan Mooney did the damage at Casement Park.
The all-Munster clash between Limerick and Waterford at the Gaelic Grounds went the way of the Treaty County, despite the best efforts of Deise man Paul Whyte.
Stephen Kelly scored seven for Limerick as Waterford ended the game with 14 men after Gary Hurney was dismissed.
In the second round replay between Wicklow and Armagh at Aughrim, Mick O’Dwyer ended his career with the Garden County in defeat.
With the carrot of a third round meeting against Tyrone, Armagh’s Jamie Clark hit the net twice to secure his side’s passage.
SFC qualifiers – round three
Limerick 0-14 Waterford 0-09
Antrim 0-10 Down 3-13
Meath 0-14 Kildare 2-11
SFC qualifiers – round two
Wicklow 0-10 Armagh 2-09