KERRY SFC FINAL: Mid Kerry 2-8 Kerins O'Rahilly's 2-8: IF KERINS O'RAHILLY'S intend giving Jack O'Connor a winning send-off as manager then they're certainly going about it the hard way.

From seven points down early in the second half of yesterday's county final, the Tralee club produced an extraordinary comeback to draw level with Mid Kerry - before it all ended fair and square in the near darkness of Fitzgerald Stadium.

Having played six games in the past seven weekends, O'Rahilly's must be approaching the point of physical and perhaps even nervous breakdown. Although the replay was provisionally set for next weekend, the club immediately sought an extra week and the county board set the replay for Sunday week, back in Killarney.

That, however, could create another problem as two of O'Rahilly's star players - Tommy Walsh and David Moran - are due to take up a trial with Australian Rules outfit St Kilda around the same time, and that at least will almost surely be rescheduled.

Not that O'Connor was thinking about this at the final whistle. He was just thinking relief. Having worked so hard to draw level, they then handed Mid Kerry a last chance to win it with a somewhat dodgy free, which Darren O'Sullivan bravely stepped up to take. And missed.

With that, O'Connor moved on to the field and began slapping players proudly on the back. There is no doubt where this team is getting their spirit from - and no doubt either why O'Connor is back in the Kerry hot seat. "We started sluggish of course," he said with his typically musing look. "But we've had a run of six games in seven weeks. We're bound to be a bit tired. We were in that position before, 1-5 to two points down against Rathmore, in the second round, and four points down against South Kerry. And seven down today. But there's fierce heart in this team. We're not going to give up on this title without a great fight. And we're still there fighting. So this is still the only job in my head at the moment."

One of the main reasons they are still there fighting is Moran. His performance around midfield yesterday was outstanding.Moran's point a minute into injury-time which finally secured the draw for O'Rahilly's - just a metre from the left sideline which he belted straight between the posts - was as good a score as Fitzgerald Stadium has ever witnessed.

"An outrageous point," said O'Connor. "Unbelievable. Over the shoulder stuff. But look we were just glad it went over the bar. And I think the crowd were willing it over. So we're delighted to get a second bite at it. But we're certainly going to have to start better the next time.

"And when they went a point back up there towards the end it looked all over. But with good kickers like we have on the team you always have a chance. So look lads it's all still to play for."

With the extra week rest, O'Rahilly's can only improve, particularly in their consistency over the 60 minutes. O'Connor admitted, too, that there probably was some lactic acid still in the legs: "It's a hell of a schedule for amateur players. We'd an awful tough game last week above in Nemo. And it was unfair on us to be asked to play that game the week before the county final."

When they found their feet yesterday O'Rahilly's were certainly impressive, but the problem is they were fairly legless for the opening half and thus allowed Mid Kerry to steal what looked certain to be a winning advantage.

Having positioned Aidan O'Shea to do a fine job when moving back to mark Walsh at one end, they went about doing the business at the other - scoring two goals in the first half through corner forward Kieran Foley.

And they were no ordinary goals. On both occasions Foley out-smarted the O'Rahilly's defence and particularly their goalkeeper with two deft flicks into the net, a la Gooch. The first on 16 minutes was brilliantly set up by Donnchadh Walsh and the second, on 27 minutes, was equally well set up by Seán O'Sullivan - one of several Mid Kerry players in fine form throughout the game.

Darren O'Sullivan hit a superb free straight after and so left Mid Kerry 2-5 to 0-4 in front; and left O'Rahilly's in big trouble. They were slow to dig themselves out of it, but Tommy Walsh availed of a goalkeeping error to slot home their first goal on 39 minutes, and then played a hand in their second 10 minutes later when his shot rebounded into the path of his 18-year-old brother Barry John.

Five minutes later the sides were level when Moran hit the first of his mammoth points from play - only to better it minutes later when levelling again after Darren O'Sullivan's free at the other end. Cracking stuff, as they say on Newstalk.

MID KERRY: M Moriarty; A Cahillane, A O'Shea, D Murphy; F Griffin, C Kelliher, J McGillycuddy; M Burke, D Walsh; G Sayers, D O'Sullivan (0-4, 3 frees), S O'Sullivan (0-1); D Kelliher (0-1), K Foley (2-2), L Sheehan. Subs: S Murphy for Sheehan (37 mins), D Breen for Kelliher (54 mins), C MacCionnaith for Griffin (60 mins).

KERINS O'RAHILLY'S: G Kissane; D O'Sullivan, M O'Shea, G O'Grady; B Quill, B Moran, G Duffy; M Quirke, D Moran (0-4, one free, one 45); J O'Connor (0-1), BJ Walsh (1-2), T O'Sullivan; D Quill (0-1), T Walsh (1-0), BJ Keane. Subs: P Madden for Keane (23 mins), K Scannell for B Moran (59 mins).

Referee: D Casey(Scartaglen).