Kildare staged a superb second half comeback on their Division 1 return to hold joint league champions Kerry as Jack O'Connor made a frustrated return to Newbridge.
With the Lilywhites under Glenn Ryan's new management and O'Connor back at the Kingdom helm after abruptly leaving the Lilywhites last September, a large attendance was drawn to St Conleth's Park.
And the crowds weren't disappointed as the teams produced a committed, high-octane encounter that saw the Lilywhites draw level after an heroic second half effort, with Jimmy Hyland keeping his nerve with a free out of his hands to cap a brilliant display.
Tom O'Sullivan's wild attempt in the dying moments endured the spoils were shared on a wet afternoon.
With Dublin visiting Tralee next Saturday, O'Connor will be concerned that his side only managed to score three points in the second half, having taken a four point lead into the break.
But credit to the Kildare defence, led by Mick O'Grady, who were disciplined in shackling David Clifford, Paul Geaney and company.
After the throw-in got put back by 15 minutes, it was the Lilywhites who got off to a good start with quick-fire points by Paul Cribbin and Kevin Flynn.
But Kerry's first score was the game's opening goal, a low near post shot by Killian Spillane after Gavin White appeared to handle on the ground before finding the corner-forward.
That settled the Kingdom and with captain Sean O'Shea adding two frees and David Clifford a brace from play, the visitors deservedly led by 1-7 to 0-6 at the break but lost the outstanding White to injury in the 27th minute when he was fouled by Ben McCormack, who was booked.
After watching his team squander possession at key moments, despite sharpshooter Hyland's tireless work at either end of the pitch, Ryan replaced McCormack with Neil Flynn and the injured Kevin O'Callaghan with Kevin Feely at the break.
Geaney extended Kerry's lead to five points just after the restart but Clifford was the third name into referee David Coldrick's book for a high tackle as the hosts rallied.
Kildare's defence increased the intensity and got the reward by frustrating the Kingdom defenders - and, on the break, Ryan's men reduced the deficit with Paddy Woodgate getting off the mark after a brilliant Tony Archbold interception, and Neil Flynn finding his namesake Kevin to make it 1-8 to 0-8 in the 46th minute.
O'Connor responded by calling forwards Killian Spillane and Dara Moynihan ashore and, after a period of stalemate, it was the visitors who got the next score, with Paudie Clifford scoring his second point of the game in the 56th minutes.
Typically, Kildare responded through Cribbin, only for Tony Brosnan to restore Kerry's four-point advantage moments later.
Woodgate's free kept the home side in it and a rousing cheer greeted the award of a free on Kerry's 14 metre line, but Hyland couldn't steer it over from the angle.
Still the Lilywhites kept coming and Woodgate made it a two-point game in the 66th minute, Hyland reduced the gap still further and the Ballyteague man then knocked over the free when Cribbin was fouled to level it up.
Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Mick O'Grady, Shea Ryan, Ryan Houlihan; Jack Sargent, James Murray, Tony Archbold; Kevin O'Callaghan, Kevin Flynn (0-2); Padraig Tuohy, Paul Cribbin (0-2), Ben McCormack; Paddy Woodgate (0-3, 1f), Daniel Flynn, Jimmy Hyland (0-6, 4fs).
Subs: Kevin Feely for O'Callaghan (ht), Neil Flynn for McCormack (ht), Paddy McDermott for Tuohy (53).
Kerry: Shane Murphy; Dan O'Donoghue, Jason Foley, Tom O'Sullivan (0-1); Paul Murphy, Tadhg Morley, Gavin White; Sean O'Shea (0-3, 2f), Adrian Spillane; Micheál Burns, Paudie Clifford (0-2), Dara Moynihan; Killian Spillane (1-0), David Clifford (0-2), Paul Geaney (0-1).
Subs: B O'Beaglaioch for White (27), Jack Savage for Burns (ht), Tony Brosnan (0-1) for Spillane (48), Greg Horan for Moynihan (53).
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