Enda Dixon's last gasp point earned Longwood a status securing draw with Kilmessan in an exciting SHC clash at Pairc Tailteann early on Sunday.
Kilmessan ......... 0-17
Longwood .......... 0-17
Fortunes ebbed and flowed during a second-half sprinkled with light rain. Kilmessan looked set for their fourth win from five outings early on. Longwood settled and with a bit more composure might have registered their second win of the campaign.
The outcome is good for both sides; Longwood's senior status is assured while Kilmessan are assured of a quarter-final spot.
By the 56th minute, Longwood moved 0-16 to 0-14 clear when sub Eoin Lynch placed Ryan Moore. Kilmessan responded with three points on the spin, the third courtesy of Mal Doyle.
Both sides passed up chances in added time. First, Eoin Lynch for Longwood before Darren Reilly (free) was off target at the hospital end. Then Karl Ennis turned provider for Dixon to level matters for the sixth and final time.
On a dry overcast early afternoon, Kilmessan opened in pursuit of their fourth win from five starts with four points in the opening seven minutes. Three Darren Reilly frees were followed by a Kevin Keena effort from play.
Longwood's response was the first of Anthony Healy's four first-half points from frees. His second from long distance cut the gap to two points, 0-3 to 0-5, by the 14th minute.
Two Darren Reilly efforts (frees) around the mid-point of the half doubled Kilmessan's advantage, 0-7 to 0-3.
By the 20th minute, Longwood trimmed the deficit to the minimum with a trio of scores from Anthony Healy (free), Mickey Burke and Ryan Moore.
Kilmessan responded with Darren Reilly's seventh first-half point from a placed ball. On the other side, Longwood's Ryan Moore registered from inside his own half.
Darren Reilly turned provider for Kevin Reily to edge Kilmesssan in front in first-half stoppage time. There was still time for Anthony Healy (free) to point from about 40 metres and leave the sides tied, 0-9-each at the break.
Within 30 seconds of resumption Longwood hit the front for the first time when sub Eoin Lynch pointed. Joey Keena quickly levelled matters, for the second time, and the scene was set for a keenly contested second-half. The scores were tied on four further occasions before the end.
Overall, Kilmessan were marginally more wasteful while there were never more than two points between the teams after the break. The lead changed hands three times in the second-half.
Kilmessan - Chris Curtis; Martin Horan, Shane Brennan, Peter Farrell; Padraig Burke, Mal Doyle (0-1), Mark Munnelly; Kevin Reilly (0-2), Alan Kelly; Eoin Marsh, Joey Keena (0-1), Sean Doyle; Paul Grimes, Kevin Keena (0-1), Darren Reilly (0-12, 10 fs, 1 65) . Subs - Paddy O'Rourke for Grimes (ht),
Longwood - Darragh Maguire; Chris Lynch, Enda Dixon (0-1), Joe Stenson; John Furey, Mickey Burke (0-1), Niall Mulvany; Ryan Moore (0-3), Karl Ennis (0-2); Coran Byrne, Anthony Healy (0-7 fs), Jamie Connolly (0-1); Bob Maguire, Aaron Ennis, Damien Healy (0-1). Subs - Eoin Lynch (0-1) for Byrne (30 inj), Martin Bermingham for Maguire (37), Colm Hackett for Bermingham (59).
Referee - Fergus Smith (Kilcock)