Palatine - 1-7 Rathvilly - 2-4:CARLOW/SF Final: Palatine scored two late points to force the Carlow senior football championship final to a replay after a scrappy decider which was redeemed somewhat by a thrilling final quarter before the attendance of about 4,000 at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow yesterday.

The opening half was a dull affair which produced only five scores. Palatine's county senior player, Brian Kelly, opened the scoring with a sixth-minute point from a free but two minutes later Rathvilly struck for a fine goal from midfielder Ken Doyle. However, this was to be their only score of the half.

In the 29th minute, Palatine's right full-forward Damian McMahon scored his side's goal and the side from the Kildare border led 1-3 to 1-0 at half-time.

Rathvilly dominated the third quarter and their pressure had its reward in the 45th minute when a sideline ball from full forward David Nolan was crashed to the Palatine net by substitute Daniel O'Brien.

Rathvilly held a two-point lead entering the final four minutes of the game but the introduction of Packie O'Toole to the Palatine attack paid immediate dividends.

O'Toole kicked a fine point from play and then James Reid took possession of a breaking ball in front of the Rathvilly goal to post a 59th minute leveller.

The replay will go ahead next Sunday at Dr Cullen Park with a 3.45 throw-in. The game will be preceded by the first-round Leinster club hurling tie between St Mullins of Carlow and Lough Lene Gaels of Westmeath.

PALATINE: T Nolan; K McDonald, B Farrell, E McGarry; L Kenny, James Reid (0-1), G Farrell; J Byrne, A Hosey; John Reid, J Kelly, B Kelly (0-4); D McMahon (1-0), P Reid, E McMahon (0-1). Subs: P O'Dwyer for Kelly, P O'Toole (0-1) for E McMahon.

RATHVILLY: A Doyle; K Byrne, C Doyle, J Bolger; T Molloy (0-1), J Keogh, C Cole; K Doyle (1-0), D Leonard; JJ Smith, S Kavanagh, D O'Donoghue; C Byrne, D Nolan (0-3), M Curran. Subs: D O'Brien (1-0) for Curran, F Kelly for C Byrne, T Bolger for Leonard.

Referee: E Whelan (Laois).