IN DIVISION Four, Wicklow weathered a late Kilkenny rally at Ballyragget to win out by 1-13 to 1-9. The win puts Wicklow on top of the table.

A Fergus Mulligan goal after 19 minutes put Wicklow on the way to a 1-6 to 0-3 lead at half-time and when they extended that lead to 1-10 to 0-3, halfway through the second half, a win seemed a mere formality.

However, Kilkenny, who prop up the table, had other ideas and three points from Brian McEvoy, another from Pat Brennan and a goal from Brian Leahy had them right back in contention. Wicklow were settled by a late point from Donal McGillycuddy, but they were mightily relieved to hear the final whistle.

Limerick remain fast on Wicklow's heels following their rather flattering 1-7 to 1-3 win overt London. After a very poor first half, visitors London led by 1-0 to 0-2. There was no score for the last 15 minutes of the half and it was only 14 minutes into the second period when a point by Damian Reidy levelled the match.

Limerick had slight edge in the final quarter, but the matter was in doubt right up to the final whistle when substitute Noel Frewen punched the ball to the net.

Offaly's prospects of gaining promotion suffered a setback in Tullamore when they were surprisingly held to a draw by a make-shift Carlow side which lacked the services of their Eire Og club players.

Offaly led by 2-1 to 0-5 at the interval and when they added five points without reply, they seemed set for an easy win. Goals from Ger Kavanagh and substitute Shay Doorley, however, cut the arrears to three points, and a third goal by wing back Johnny Kavanagh, 90 seconds from time, levelled the match.