Republic of Ireland 2 Turkey 2
David Connolly scored a superb individual goal - his first international strike for two years - to stake his claim for a place alongside Robbie Keane in the Republic of Ireland's decisive Euro 2004 Group 10 qualifier in Switzerland next month.
Ireland will almost certainly need to win their Group 10 clash in Basel if they are to have any chance of reaching next summer's European Championship finals in Portugal, and Kerr must surely now give serious consideration to playing Connolly alongside Robbie Keane, with Damien Duff wide on the right, for that match.
West Ham striker Connolly was making his 39th international appearance and claimed his ninth goal in superb fashion after 35 minutes of the friendly at Lansdowne Road.
Collecting a pass from Liverpool's Steve Finnan, he showed a great burst of speed to slip Aston Villa defender Alpay on the left before cutting into the box and burying his shot inside the near post. It was Connolly's first goal in an Ireland shirt since he scored against Cyprus in World Cup qualifier in October 2001.
While the Irish players saw this game as their chance to stake a claim for a place in the side to take on the Swiss, the Turks were taking the opportunity to play against a team whose style of play most resembles their next opponents England in a Euro 2004 showdown.
The visitors were always dangerous on the break and Ireland's lead was cancelled out after 52 minutes thanks to a slick move as Blackburn midfielder Tugay fed Ergun on the left and his cross was headed home at the near post by Hakan Sukur.
Turkey threatened to spoil Ireland's night just four minutes from the end when Ergun again crossed from the left and the defence stood still to allow Okan Yilmaz to ghost in at the far post and drill the ball into the far corner.
However, two minutes into injury time Stephen Carr's corner from the left was fired home by fellow substitute Richard Dunne to save Kerr's unbeaten run at the helm and end the night on a bright note.