BREATHLESS game, breathless game, breathless were separated by three divisions but looked inseparable in Navan yesterday until a decisive surge by Kildare asserted the natural order late in the afternoon.

When substitute Padraig Graven hit their ninth point, in the 58th minute, it was the first occasion Kildare held the lead. The timing was impeccable - little else about their performance was.

A deflated Offaly manager, Tommy Lyons, said it was Kildare's experience that won it for them. "They've been at this level for the last six or seven years, they've been in tight games, they're used to the heat of battle."

Those years have brought more pain than pleasure, but yesterday's escape indicated that they haven't been wasted - Kildare may have acquired some steel in their soul. Manager Mick O'Dwyer ignored, their ragged display to amplify this particular point.

"Our fellows were sluggish in the first half and for the first 10 minutes of the second they were ambling along, but we came good when it really mattered and that showed a lot of character."

Evidence of a new moral fibre is not conclusive, however, and once again there were signs of familiar anonymity as Offaly rattled them repeatedly with the skill of their football and the force of their commitment.

"I don't think we deserved to lose it," Lyons rued. He's probably right - but when Offaly failed to convert a clear goal chance in the 39th minute, they left the door open for Kildare. Corner forward Vinny Claffey drew the cover and switched the ball to Ronan Mooney, unmarked on the left side of the square. The shot was on, but Mooney elected to return the pass - goalkeeper Christy Byrne made the interception.

Claffey was part of an Offaly forward line which, despite the final tally, looked the classier attacking unit. Their movement was full of pace and variety, frequently leaving Kildare defenders yards behind them. Their energy - was rewarded by good quality, early ball, delivered first time into swathes of space. Claffey, Peter Brady - the other corner forward - and the durable Sean Grennan, at centre half forward, impressed especially.

The contrast at the other end was striking. Kildare's attack was all clutter with short passes to standing colleagues bringing them up cul de sacs more than once. "We didn't get the room to do much more with it," said O'Dwyer, in tribute to Offaly's defence.

Full back Larry Carroll and right full back Cathal Daly gave "Martin Lynch and Johnny McDonald, respectively, frustrating afternoons.

Kildare did, however, get a monumental performance from Niall Buckley in midfield. His three points from placed balls were all, from long range. The third of these - a 45 in the 57th minute - was the equalising score and the passionate Kildare support, sensing the game was swinging their way, practically roared the rafters off the old stand as the ball dropped between the posts.

One minute earlier, Buckley had popped up on the right side to finish from a tight angle. Two points in two minutes, Graven made it three in three when he curled over a left footed free. The other substitutes, Brian Murphy (a Cork native) and Eric Dockery, also made useful contributions to the revival.

Offaly came looking for an equaliser, but Kildare shut them out with some terrific defending, Buckley, for example, defying Ciaran McManus with a diving blockdown.

The sides had been level at the interval, 0-5 apiece, Kildare playing catch up throughout the first half. They played it rather well, too, snatching points while Offaly in general held the upper hand. That first half had been run at a relentless pace by both teams. The fact that they sustained it for most of the second half revealed high fitness levels all round.

The second half began with goal chances at both ends, a Brady flick just missing the target and McDonald, within 60 seconds, electing to dribble the ball wide of Offaly goalkeeper Padraig Kelly, having been put in the clear by a long ball. His touch deserted him, however, and Kelly forced him to shoot wide.

Offaly added three points while Kildare failed to score for 21 minutes of the half. In the end, however, it was Offaly who were looking for time added on.