KILDARE COUNTY 3
DUNDALK 2
AN enthralling game in Station Road and three vital points as Kildare continue to chase Dublin City in the Division One title race.
Dundalk should have hit the front in the opening seconds after County failed to clear a Chris Lawless cross. The ball dropped to David Ward who forced Danny O'Leary into a brilliant save. It was a miss 'The reds' would rue as on four minutes Kildare had the lead. Barry O'Connor found Philip Hughes who dummied before firing past Andrew Bayliss.
O'Leary again denied Ward, this time from a close range free kick but the Dundalk winger had his just desserts on 32 minutes as he beat three defenders before finding the roof of the net.
County led at the interval thanks to Marc Kenny who looped a header over Bayliss nine minutes later.
It didn't take long after the restart for the County Louth side to draw level for the second time as Lawless coolly beat O'Leary after Gary Sliney's drive was partially blocked. They should have gone on to win it, but Ward was again denied by O'Leary while Simon Kelly and Anthony Reilly both went close. The clearest chance came from the penalty spot on 80 minutes. David Ward went down in controversial circumstances but justice was done as Paul Curran's effort rebounded off the upright.
But drama in the last seconds as substitute Alan Kelly turned home Zellor's cross. Kildare escaped with three points they didn't deserve.
Kildare County: O'Leary, Brennan, Cronin, Purdy, R Kenny, M Kenny, Scully, Zellor, Hughes, O'Connor (Ryan 84), McNevin (A Kelly 81).
Dundalk: Bayliss, Coburn, Sean Kelly, Curran, Isaaka, Sliney, Cunningham, Simon Kelly, Reilly, Lawless, Ward.
Referee: P Duddy.
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