Kildare earned a home quarter-final in two weeks’ time after securing their third Tailteann Cup win by handing Leitrim a 1-16 to 0-12 defeat at Glennon Bros Pearse Park this evening.

Niall Kelly’s goal on the half-hour mark sent the Lilywhites towards a comfortable 1-8 to 0-6 half-time lead and, despite Leitrim narrowing their deficit to two with points from Barry McNulty, Aidan Flynn, Cathal McHugh and Darragh Rooney, Glenn Ryan’s men were able to maintain their 100% record in the competition as the points of Paddy Woodgate, Paddy McDermott and Darragh Kirwan saw out the win.

Earlier at the Longford Town venue, Fermanagh edged a 3-11 to 2-13 win over Laois to book their own home quarter-final date.

With the sides all square on 2-9 apiece midway through the second-half, a Callum Jones penalty was crucial for the Ernesiders and, ultimately, Ultan Kelm’s point ended up being the difference between the teams after late points from Mark Timmons and Paul Kingston (free) saw Laois finishing one short in the end.

Also in Group 3, Oisin McConville’s Wicklow side recorded their first win in this year’s competition by seeing off Carlow on a 0-15 to 1-9 scoreline at Parnell Park.

Carlow had edged this derby in the capital by 0-6 to 0-5 at the halfway stage and, after falling behind early in the second-half, they bagged the only goal via Eric Molloy in the 40th minute.

From there, Wicklow upped their game with Chris O’Brien leading the way for them in the scoring stakes and points from Oisin McGraynor (2) and Padraig O’Toole proving key for them as they paved themselves a path to the last eight.

Meanwhile, Waterford earned themselves a famous win over Longford in Portlaoise to end their season on a hugely positive note.

It finished 4-12 to 1-16 at Laois Hire O'Moore Park, where Stephen Curry (2), Alan Dunwoody (penalty) and Tholom Guiry netted the Deise men’s goals on a day their Leinster counterparts will want to forget.

In Netwatch Cullen Park, Tipperary kept their season alive with a late 3-5 to 0-12 victory over Wexford which eliminates the Slayneysiders from the competition.

The Model men looked primed for the win after the scores of Sean Nolan saw them leading late on, but Stephen Grogan’s late goal from a sideline ball snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for Tipp who now enter into tomorrow’s draw at their opponents’ expense.

Earlier in the day, Limerick secured themselves a home preliminary quarter-final tie thanks to a 2-14 to 0-10 victory against London at Parnell Park.

Both of the Shannonsiders’ goals came in the opening half courtesy of Danny Neville and Paul Maher and, having led 2-8 to 0-6 at the break, the points of Peter Nash and Brian Ahern late on moved the margin into double figures late on for Jimmy Lee’s men.

Tomorrow (Sunday) sees the remaining third round fixtures in the competition down for decision, with Down playing Offaly (1.45pm) and Sligo facing Antrim (4pm) before the quarter-final draw takes place on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 around 5.40pm that evening.

Today's @OfficialGAA Tailteann Cup Results:@LimerickCLG 2-14 0-10 @LondainGAA@OfficialLDGAA 1-16 4-12 @WaterfordGAA@FermanaghGAA 3-11 2-13 @CLGLaois@WicklowGAA 0-15 1-9 @Carlow_GAA@KildareGAA 1-16 0-12 @LeitrimGAA

More: https://t.co/X1gRvhXDM7 pic.twitter.com/IiIEv1Zo9K

— FinalWhistle.ie (@FinalWhistleIE) June 1, 2024

The three best third-placed teams after the conclusion of the Tailteann Cup round-robin are @LondainGAA @wicklowgaa and @TipperaryGAA and they will join @NewYorkGAA in the preliminary quarter-final #rtegaa

— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) June 1, 2024

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