Heady times in Kerry. The senior All-Ireland wrapped and stowed. The county panel off to New York next week. A replay of the county final to look forward to in a fortnight. They had the big cup in Paddy Bawn's pub in Dingle on Saturday night, and this was a game which did justice to history and tradition just as fittingly. The county players on view did what was expected of them, and their colleagues rose well above the level of bit players. About 11,000 people went home re-inforced in their contentment with the state of football's Kingdom.

On the basis of recent seasons and last week's semi-final trimming of West Kerry, it was no surprise that Laune Rangers were the prohibitively short-priced favourites for another county title yesterday. With their full complement of Hassett brothers lending a spine to the side, with Timmy Fleming performing exuberantly at centre forward and with Mike Frank laying on the trimmings, the small print seemed to advise ticket holders to be wary of anticlimax.

Instead, East Kerry came out sprightly and wind aided and scored the first five points of the game, a combination of punches thrown with such panache that Laune looked briefly disoriented.

Michael D Cahill jinked 40 yards for the first score of the game, and, if he never looked as effective again, at least the memory of that score kept Laune worried.

The signs were good for East Kerry (at five points aren't they always). Seamus Moynihan was impressive at centre back, diminishing Timmy Fleming's influence and orchestrating things himself. Mike Frank Russell was anonymous for Laune. Donal Daly and Con O'Connor were robust and adventurous on East Kerry's behalf around the middle of the park, and, if they weren't exactly filleting the Laune defence, they were picking the scores off steadily.

Paud O'Donoghue and Con O'Connor had both supplemented Cahill's earlier score with a pair of their own before Russell registered a score after 11 minutes. It took until the last minute of the half for Laune to score from play.

What ailed them? They seemed to miss the current of electricity which Billy O'Shea's running brings to the team. Russell looked jaded, and one wondered if a long club championship campaign from now to March is what he needs right now. Tommy Byrne and Pierce Prendiville weren't digging enough out of midfield.

Generally Laune looked flat. On days like those there is nothing for it but to dig in and scrape what you can out of the game.

They got to half time in touch, but only just. The four-point margin between the sides scarcely reflected the divisional sides adventure and energy. But immediately upon the resumption Mike Hassett burst down field and slotted over a Laune point.

Hassett's score sent up the flare for the rest of the side. The forward line, completely reshuffled at the break, began to function more smoothly. Fleming moved out to left half forward and Russell moved on up to the corner where he saw even more ball. Liam Hassett moved out to his intercounty role of centre forward, and although there are many who doubt his suitability for the position he took 1-1 off Moynihan in the second half.

The increased energy and urgency in everything Laune did bore the greatest dividends 10 minutes from time when Mike Hassett, Pierce Prendiville and Liam Hassett all combined in a sweet move which climaxed with a few sweet handpasses and Liam Hassett dispatching to the net.

That score propelled Laune into the lead for the first time all afternoon. With the roars of Killorglin at their backs they looked to have stolen the game, but East Kerry found a riposte in the form of points from Paud O'Donoghue and Denis Moynihan.

East Kerry leading by a point with five minutes left? The thought of it seemed to rouse Mike Frank Russell whose young life has been generally unsoiled by defeat. He scored the equalising point at the end of a good move.

Then with seconds remaining he attached himself to the end of a move involving Mike Hassett and Brian Gannon. As Austin Stack Park erupted, he found himself clean through with only Declan O'Keeffe to beat. Nights of being humiliated at Kerry training sessions have paid off for O'Keeffe, however, and he thwarted the young genius with an extraordinary save. Noting that it wasn't his first brilliant contribution to east Kerry's cause should be sufficient to garner the man of the match bauble for O'Keeffe.

It ended in a draw, which was just. All reconvene at the same venue in two week.