Kildare are through to the last eight of the Leinster MFC after edging out Offaly by 0-14 to 0-13 in a Tullamore thriller.

This losers' group, second-round match looked to be heading for extra time but Clane clubman Ethan O'Donoghue (free) hit a last-minute winner for the Short Grass County before their opponents struck the woodwork at the death as the light faded in the midlands.

But the drama didn't end there as a melee broke out on the field after the final whistle, with supporters getting involved in the ugly scenes as opposition players went toe-to-toe.

While Kildare will be delighted to have progressed to the quarter-finals, the Faithful County have nobody to blame but themselves as they passed over on a host of glorious goal-scoring opportunties.

Having trailed by 0-4 to 0-2 after ten minutes, the away side gradually settled into their stride to take a 0-10 to 0-7 advantage into the break. Playing with the aid of a stiff breeze, the victors were served by first-half points from Jimmy Hyland (0-5), Conor Hartley (0-3), Brian McLoughlin and Tony Archibold.

The sides were level at the end of a super opening quarter, 0-5 apiece. Offaly's Dylan Hyland knocked over the first two points of the night and Shane Tierney had the hosts 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after six minutes.

Ciaran Maher tagged on the fourth Faithfuls point but the Lilywhites were level by the eighth minute and responded to a third Hyland (free) score with four unanswered points to lead by 0-8 to 0-5 with four minutes remaining in the first half.

Even though Ryan Heavin and Tierney reduced the gap to one, it was the visitors who registered the final two scores of the opening half to lead by two as the short whistle sounded.

Hyland, Maher and Jack Walsh had the hosts level soon after the restart and points from the two Shanes - O'Brien and Tierney - tied the scores up again with ten minutes to play.

Despite have Rory Feely sent off for a second yellow card five minutes from time, the visitors notched two of the last three points to seal a quarter-final date with Laois, who got the better of Wicklow elsewhere tonight.

Kildare - D Campbell; R Slattery, M Joyce, D Lawler; C Daffy, S Ryan, D O'Sullivan; D Courtney, R Feely; T Archibold (0-1), C Hartley (0-3), B McLoughlin (0-1); C Kelly (0-1), M Kelly, J Hyland (0-6, 3f). Subs: E O'Donoghue (0-1f) for M Kelly, G Burke for C Daffy, S Lawlor for T Archibold, S Doran (0-1) for D Courtney, K O'Callaghan for C Kelly, R Bannon for D O'Sullivan.

Offaly - K Kinahan; R Hynes, C Horan, PJ Daly; D Dempsey, G Smyth, A Keyes; C Mangan, K Higgins; S O'Brien (0-1), C Maher (0-2), J Walsh (0-1); D Hyland (0-5, 3f, 2'45), R Heavin (0-1f), S Tierney (0-3). Subs: J Quinn for G Smyth, J Hayes for K Higgins.

Referee - S Johnson.

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