Carlow football champions O'Hanrahans led for less than a minute at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, yesterday, but will feel they should have secured victory through some late chances. However, a draw was an equitable outcome to a fine match played in atrocious weather.

Seamus Farrell forced home a close-range goal in the fourth minute for O'Hanrahans, but within a minute the Westmeath representatives responded with a magnificent goal from Fergal Dardis. The visitors went on to establish a 2-6 to 1-1 lead at half-time with their second goal, in the 21st minute, coming from a brilliant 30metre drive from Anthony Coyne.

The O'Hanrahans made full use of the wind in the second half and Pa Kavanagh had a succession of points from frees. Corralstown-Kinnegad could muster only one second-half score, but it was a well-taken goal from right full-forward James McCaffrey and it put them into what looked like the winning lead, 3-6 to 1-8, in the 47th minute.

But within a minute Pa Kavanagh's speculative free from 45 metres wound up in the Westmeath net. With just four minutes remaining, the O'Hanrahans right half back, Breffni Hannon stormed upfield to kick a wonderful leveller. In injury time Pa Kavanagh saw his free strike the crossbar and it was cleared.

O'Hanrahan's: J Brennan; B English, A Corden, N English; B Hannon (0-1), K Walker, K Kavanagh; P Nolan, A Bowe; G Walker, P Kavanagh (1-6), M Carpenter; B Walker, A Kavanagh (0-2), S Farrell (1-0). Subs: D Bermingham for Farrell; B Quigley for B Walker.

Corralstown-Kinnegad: K Leech; B Cole, J Coyne, M Fox; D Kilmartin, J Cooney, C Coyne; A Coyne (1-3), N Kilmartin; D Flynn, E Fleming, A Canning; J McCaffrey (1-1), L Giles (0-1), F Dardis (1-1). Subs: D Fleming for Canning; D Greville for Flynn; D Leonard for McCaffrey; J Fleming for Dardis; J Giles for Cole (injured).

Referee: J Smith (Meath).