Ballybofey man Joel Bradley-Walsh came off the bench to earn Finn Harps a dramatic point in Kevin McHugh's first game as manager of the Donegal side.
Bradley-Walsh headed home in the 96th minute to cancel out Aaron Doran’s opener for Longford Town, who looked set to leave with a narrow win.
A lengthy period of added time was played and Bradley-Walsh headed in his first senior goal for his hometown club, nodding in from Patrick Ferry’s cross.
Harps - who had Kevin Jordan sent off midway through the second half - might even have stolen victory at the end, but Patrick Ferry shot wide and Harry Halwax, the Longford Town goalkeeper, had to be at his best to save well from Dara McGuinness.
Longford took the lead when Doran picked his spot with a free-kick from just inside the D in the 25th minute. Doran’s effort flew past a six-man wall and right into the bottom corner of David Aziaya’s net at the Town End. Doran was also on the mark last week when Longford got the better of Treaty United.
Doran’s goal came after a few minutes of a pause after an attempted clearance struck referee Oliver Moran in the face.
After back-to-back wins over Bray Wanderers and Athlone Town, Harps were in buoyant mood coming into this one.
In the wake of the departure of Darren Murphy, Harps turned to club legend McHugh, scorer of 186 goals in 438 appearances as a player.
New boss McHugh had to watch from the upper deck of the television gantry due to a touchline suspension following his sending off during last month’s 1-1 draw at UCD.
McHugh restored Gavin Gilmore and 16-year-old Gavin McAteer to the starting XI in two changes to the team that started last week’s 1-0 win over Athlone Town.
The Donegal side were a lick of paint from an equaliser in added time at the end of the first half, Max Hutchison - son of former Liverpool, Everton and West Ham player Don Hutchison - headed off a post after connecting with a Kevin Jordan free.
Murphy, who has moved to manage Irish League strugglers Loughgall, was among the spectators and saw his former side almost snatch a leveller five minutes after the re-start.
Conor Tourish headed against the post from a McAteer free before David Cawley’s effort, deflected on its way, was hooked off the line by Eric Yoro.
On the hour, a low effort by Cawley was held by Halwax as Harps upped the ante.
Harps were dealt a hammer blow in the 66th minute when they were reduced to 10 men, Jordan shown a straight red card for a reckless tackle that necessitated the introduction of a stretcher to take Osaze Irhue from the pitch.
Twelve minutes were added on at the end and Halwax brilliantly denied Harps sub Aaron McLaughlin as the hosts went in search of something.
And they got it via Bradley-Walsh, the 24-year-old in the right place at the right time to grab a memorable point.
Elsewhere in the First Division, Dundalk remain clear at the top of the table thanks to a narrow 1-0 victory over fifth-placed UCD; Leo Gaxha with the only goal of the game at the UCD Bowl.
Bray Wanderers moved to second place thanks to a 1-0 away win at Athlone Town with Conor Knight's ninth-minute goal the difference between the two sides.
Cobh Ramblers lost ground on the leaders and fell to third place after losing 3-1 at home to Wexford.
Ramblers took the lead in the 14th minute through Barry Coffey before the visitors equalised in the 38th-minute as Calum Flynn got on the scoresheet.
The home side were reduced to ten men in the 49th minute as Daniel Griffin was sent off, and Wexford took advantage straight away as Mikie Rowe put Wexford ahead.
Flynn bagged his brace in the 66th minute to secure the three points for Wexford.
In the Munster derby, Treaty United's 3-0 victory over Kerry moved them into fourth place in the table.
David Tarmey opened the scoring in the 45th minute before Niko Kozlowski added a second 12 minutes into the second half, while Trpimir Vrljicak wrapped up the points with Treaty's third in the 75th minute.
Finn Harps: David Aziaya; Mikey Place (Joel Bradley-Walsh 76) , Max Hutchison, Conor Tourish, Kevin Jordan; David Cawley (Aaron McLaughlin 83), Tony McNamee; Gavin Gilmore (Gradi Lomboto 76), Gavin McAteer, Gavin Hodgins (Patrick Ferry 60); Dara McGuinness.
Longford Town: Harry Halwax; Osaze Irhue (Etoile Milongo), Oisin Hand, Aaron Walsh, Dean O’Shea; Eric Yoro; Josh Giurgi (Francis Campbell 64), Aaron Doran (Emmanuel James 85), Emre Topcu, Mohammed Bodiaf (Dean George 64); Daragh Murtagh (Andrew Spain 85).
Referee: Oliver Moran.
