Kildare scored 1-01 in the final two minutes to earn a draw with Donegal in Letterkenny on Sunday afternoon.
In this stop-start Division 2 clash, a point from Eamonn Callaghan and goal from Michael Foley gave the Lilywhites a share of the spoils.
Keith Cribbin and Eoghan O’Flaherty kicked Kildare ahead, before Michael Murphy got Donegal back level at 0-03 apiece for half-time.
A run of four successive points from Murphy (0-02), Michael Hegarty and Mark McHugh shot the hosts ahead, but Kildare had the final say.
The first half was an error-strewn affair dominated by frees – 36 in all – and strong defensive displays from both sides.
Kildare, who lost at home to Derry last weekend, took the lead thanks to two points from play from Cribbin and O’Flaherty. But a John Doyle free was their only other score in the opening 35 minutes.
Following on from their defeat of Ulster rivals Tyrone, Donegal took their time to settle and a series of misplaced passes and poor shots left them scoreless.
Michael Murphy watched his shot clip off a post and go wide and he also had a penalty claim waved away by referee Michael Duffy.
They bided their time and late in the half, Martin McElhinney and Murphy (free) added to an earlier pointed free from Colm McFadden as Donegal squared things up before the break.
Fionn Dowling restored Kildare’s advantage at the start of the second half, only for Donegal’s attack to click into gear and thrive off their long ball tactic.
The abrasive Murphy scored three points during a dominant spell for Jim McGuinness’ side, with Hegarty and McHugh also on target.
That left Kildare with an 0-08 to 0-04 deficit and time not on their side. But Callaghan’s point gave them a shot at rescuing a draw from the jaws of defeat, and they did so in dramatic fashion.
After winning a free in injury-time, they brought up Michael Foley from defence. With seconds remaining, the free was delivered in and Callaghan fisted it on for Athy clubman Foley to slot home for the equalising score.
