Injury-time goals from Arthur McConville and Donal O'Hare fired Down to a dramatic 3-13 to 1-15 victory over Kildare at Newbridge.

The winners trailed by 1-15 to 1-12 approaching the end of the regulation 70 minutes and it looked as though Jason Ryan's men were about to open their league programme with a victory.

However, the visitors had other ideas as they plundered both points in an unbelievable finish.

First, McConville reacted quickest to palm the ball to the net after Paul Devlin's free had rebounded off the crossbar - level!

Devlin then gathered possession from the kickout to boot the visitors ahead and there was time at the end for O'Hare to add a third Down goal.

The Lilywhites led by 1-7 to 0-9 at the end of a keenly-contested opening 35 minutes, with Niall Kelly supplying the goal in the 21st minute.

That Kelly three-pointer had given the hosts a 1-5 to 0-5 lead but three O'Hare points kept the Mourne County very much in contention.

When the home team again surged three points ahead after the restart, Down levelled with a goal from half-time substitute Caolan Mooney.

Stephen Kane was another hero for Down today as he saved a second-half penalty from Podge Fogarty.

Down - M Cunningham; D O'Hagan (0-1), C Garvey, L Howard; D Turley, B McArdle, K McKernan; N Madine, P Fitzpatrick; R Johnston, C Laverty, P Devlin (0-6, 2f); J Johnston, C Maginn, D O'Hare (1-6, 0-4f). Subs: C Mooney (1-0) for R Johnston, M Poland for C Garvey, S Kane for M Cunningham (BC), D O'Hanlon for P Fitzpatrick, A McConville (1-0) for J Johnston, P Turley for C Maginn (BC).

Kildare - M Donnellan; C Fitzpatrick, P Kelly, M O'Grady; O Lyons, D O'Brien, E Doyle; H Lynch, P O'Neill; E Callaghan, N Kelly (1-1), E O'Flaherty (0-4, 3f); D Mulhall (0-4, 2f), F Dowling (0-4), P Fogarty (0-2). Subs: G White for H Lynch, F Conway for E Doyle, D Hyland for P Kelly, K Cribbin for D Mulhall.

Referee - A Nolan.

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