Kildare opened their Allianz National Hurling League Division 2B campaign for 2019 with a victory against Donegal.
It finished: Donegal 1-13, Kildare 2-16.
Kildare, the Christy Ring Cup holders, had to come from behind to secure victory in a well contested contested played at O'Donnell Park in Letterkenny.
The visitors, who were relegated from Division 2A last year, ultimately won by six points but that was thanks to a strong finish.
For much of the game there was little between the sides.
In a well contested first half, there was plenty of excitement.
Donegal were boosted by an early goal from Gavin Browne and Kildare then had a penalty but Brian Byrne was denied by Paul Burns who went full stretch to make a great save.
Bernard Deay, however, scored a goal for the Lilywhites to leave them trailing 1-3 to 1-2 after 12 minutes.
Kildare then got a second penalty and this time goalkeeper Paddy McKenna took over the responsibilities but only managed a point as the sides were level.
Donegal then added four more points before the break while Kildare got three.
At half-time, Donegal led by 1-7 to 1-6.
But Kildare then picked things up in the second half. Although Declan Coulter and Kevin Kealy extended the Donegal lead out to 1-9 to 1-6, the visitors then enjoyed a good spell.
Kevin Whelan scored a number of fine points for the Leinster side and with Brian Byrne also playing a pivotal role they came from behind to move into a 1-14 to 1-11 lead with ten minutes left.
Ciaran Mathewson pulled one back for Donegal but Kildare responded with points from Barry Cormack, only just on the field as a substitute, and Paul Divilly with a fine long range effort to extend the lead out to four, 1-16 to 1-12.
The inspirational Brian Byrne then fired in Kildare's second goal to seal the issue as the game went into stoppage time.
Coulter managed to get another free over the bar for Donegal but it was essentially a consolation score and in the end Kildare deserved their win.
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