THE league leaders Kenmare remain at the summit in Division Three but only after an enthralling 015 apiece draw with St Pats which saw the visitors having to overhaul a seven point deficit at one stage in the match.

Brendan Poff helped the homes side to an 0-8 to 01 advantage after 15 minutes but driven on by Donal O'Connor and Johnny O'Sullivan, Kenmare managed to reduce the deficit to two points at the break, St Pats leading by 0-9 to 0-7.

The sides were level at 11 points each at the three quarter mark before David O'Callaghan came more into the game and after Kenmare had gone in front for the first time, two Kieran Hurley points left it at 0-15 to 0-14 heading into injury time. However, DJ Brennan saved the day for Kenmare with a 20 metre free that keeps them not only on top of the table but also undefeated in the campaign thus far.

Second now are Keel as despite missing a number of regulars they overcame a physical challenge from Duagh by 2-10 to 1-8 with first half goals from David Flaherty and Kieran Foley cancelling out Stephen Moran's effort in a 2-5 to 12 interval lead for the Mid Kerry side. Despite the efforts of Daniel O'Donoghue and Maurice O'Connor Duagh find themselves in the relegation zone and in real danger of being relegated should they lose to Firies next time out.

Firies, meanwhile, stayed in the promotion hunt following a 1-11 to 08 triumph over Waterville. Leading by 0-5 to 0-3 at the break, the East Kerry side needed Colm O'Shea and Mike Daly to keep them in front as Haulie Courtney and the O'Sullivans, Seamus and Gearoid threatened for the South Kerry outfit.

The game was decided late on when Paul Dineen made a point blank save and Firies went down the other end and Neil Brendan Foley slotted over a crucial point before Mike Daly fisted a late free into the net to secure victory.

John Mitchels are still in the reckoning after leaving Sneem/Derrynane with a point in a very low scoring encounter that sees them tie with both Firies and Keel on nine points in the table.

A Joe Corridan penalty gave the home side a 1-2 to 0-3 lead at the break but Jamie Moriarty, Wayne Conway and John Higgins brought the Tralee side back into it in the second half as Donal Galvin and David Drummond stood out for the South Kerry combo yet Adrian Breen missed a late free to win the game for his side as the game finished 1-6 to 0-9.

Dromid Pearses eased their own relegation worries with a 0-10 to 1-5 victory over a very disjointed Beaufort side for whom Francis Courtney's contribution of 1-4 was the only worthy contribution.

They might yet have stole something though had Brian O'Leary not pulled off a dramatic late save that prevented the most unlikely of comebacks as Dromid had led by 0-10 to 0-4 at one stage.

Donal 'Shine' O'Sullivan was outstanding for the South Kerry side who can almost certainly secure their safety with victory over neighbours Waterville in the next round.

Beale, however, look to be on their way to a second successive relegation after going down to Glenbeigh/Glencar by 1-13 to 1-9 at the weekend. They face a daunting task in league leaders Kenmare in the next round knowing defeat as well as the results of the games involving Sneem/Derrynane, Glenbeigh/Glencar and Dromid Pearses could send them down to Division Four next year with three games left in the campaign.