Derry were left ruing some poor shooting as Kildare notched the final four points at Newbridge to take the Division 1B spoils by 0-10 to 0-07.
With talisman Paddy Bradley not starting, the Oak Leafers struck nine wides in the second half to ruin their chances of a comeback win.
Two John Doyle points helped Kildare to a 0-5 to 0-4 half-time lead, with Conleth Gilligan firing over three times for Paddy Crozier's men.
The same two players swapped frees before Mark Lynch and Enda Muldoon nudged Derry ahead. But Padraig O'Neill, substitute James Kavanagh and Doyle (0-2) had the final say for Kildare.