The goals flowed as Mid-Ulster rivals Dungannon Swifts and Glenavon shared the points in a compelling derby clash at Stangmore Park.
This was a game which had everything, and more.
All that was missing was a winner– unless you count an enthralled audience which was kept on edge by 90 minutes of breathless action.
Two goals in the opening 30 minutes put Dungannon firmly in control, but the match turned on a chaotic eight-minute spell around the hour mark.
William Murphy and then Guy Bates hauled the visitors level, before Mark Patton’s clever chip capped a dramatic fightback.
But Darren Boyce slammed the brakes on the Lurgan club’s revival when he converted from the penalty spot 15 minutes from the end.
Both managers will feel they could have won. Glenavon twice hit the woodwork and had an effort cleared off the line, while Swifts skipper Ryan Harpur wasted a brilliant chance in the closing stages.
It had all started so well for Dungannon with an own-goal giving them a 13th minute lead.
Ryan Harpur swung over a corner and William Murphy, under pressure from Stefan Lavery, headed past his own goalkeeper.
Boyce came close to adding a second when he glanced Terry Fitzpatrick’s cross towards goal, however, his effort was brilliantly tipped over.
But Andy Coleman was left helpless when Glenavon’s vulnerability from set-pieces was exposed again in the 30th minute.
The goal was similar to the first as a corner was pitched in, this time by Jamie Douglas, and Ricky Copeland powered home a header.
For all the visitors’ defensive faults, they carried a real threat going forward, and Dungannon were warned the game was far from over on the stroke of half-time.
Kyle Neill’s free-kick was headed on for Bates but, 10 yards out, his low strike was brilliantly blocked by the goalkeeper’s foot.
The home side should have added a third on the counter-attack early in the second half.
Michael McKerr led the charge forward but took the ball too wide, when a quicker pass would surely have presented Lavery or Boyce with a tap-in.
And that wastefulness was ruthlessly punished as Glenavon came storming back.
It was sparked by Murphy, who redeemed his earlier gaffe by converting a long-throw from Gareth McKeown.
Suddenly it was Swifts’ defensive deficiencies being exposed.
Two minutes later another McKeown throw caused a scramble in the box, with Bates eventually stabbing home to equalise.
It was all Glenavon now, and they edged in front in the 67th minute when Gary Hamilton released Patton and he lifted the ball over the ‘keeper.
Eight minutes, three goals, the game turned on its head. The drama, however, was far from over.
Glenavon striker David Rainey, who earlier saw a powerful drive smash back off the far post, hit the woodwork for a second time with a header.
And the miss was punished with 15 minutes remaining.
A needless foul on Harpur saw Dungannon awarded a penalty. With Matt Hazley injured, responsibility fell to Boyce, but he calmly converted to make it 3-3.
The final minutes saw both teams push for a winning goal.
Neill’s corner was cleared off the line by McKerr, while Hamilton curled a free-kick inches wide after the impressive Bates had been fouled.
The best chance, however, fell to Dungannon. Chris Lavery fed Harpur but, with the visitors’ defence peeling open, the midfielder’s tame shot was directed straight at the goalkeeper.
DGN SWIFTS: Buchanan, McKerr, Brennan, Copeland, Grieve, McCullough, Fitzpatrick (Hutchinson, 66), Harpur, S Lavery, Boyce, Douglas (C Lavery, 70)
Subs not used: Doyle, Glackin, Costello
GLENAVON: Coleman, Neill, McCallion, Murphy, Lindsay (McKeown, 32), Kilmartin, Bates, Rainey, Patton, McGrory (Hamilton, 61), Martyn (McCabe, 41)
Subs not used: Marshall, Singleton
Referee: Ian McNabb (Newtownabbey)