FFALY moved to the brink of promotion to Division 2 with victory over KILDARE, whose expected return to the second tier remains in the balance.
Over 5,000 supporters went to Glenisk O’Connor Park to see the Faithful’s joint-bosses Mickey Harte and Declan Kelly secure a seismic 2-17 to 0-17 victory.
A purple patch either side of half-time actually saw the Lilywhites 0-14 to 0-12 to the good by the three-quarter mark.
But a fine team goal finished by Rory Egan shifted momentum Offaly’s way and Dylan Hyland’s penalty in the 67th minute made sure.
The Faithful now just need to avoid an 11-point defeat in Ennis on Sunday to go up.
At the other end of the table, Alan McLoughlin, Alan Reilly and goalscorer Luke Towey starred as SLIGO beat ANTRIM 1-18 to 1-15 at Corrigan Park.
The result sees the hosts drop a point below the Yeats men and into the bottom two.
LIMERICK, meanwhile, will join Wexford in the Division 4 final if they beat Waterford on Sunday.
The Treaty salvaged a 1-21 to 3-15 draw in WICKLOW to stay above the Garden County in the race for second place.
Pádraig O’Toole, Jack Kirwan and Dean Healy scored the goals as Wicklow led by three late on.
But a two-pointer from goalscorer Emmet Rigter and James Naughton’s score tied it all up.
