IN THE opening game of division one of the 2010 football leagues, AGB and Carnew ended up with a share of the league points at Arklow on Saturday after referee Gerry Corbett revealed that the teams had played out a 1-13 each draw.

At the final whistle AGB believed that they had won by a point; but that difference of opinion apart the Arklow men have only themselves to blame for not coming away with maximum points as they allowed a seven points lead in the first half to slip from their grasp.

Even though Philip Healy had the opening point for AGB after 5 minutes from a good cross from Damien Redmond, Carnew had the better start to this match and they dominated much of the play in the opening ten minutes to go ahead with points by full-forward Graham Keogh and Joe Murphy from a free.

Graham Keogh landed another good point for Carnew on 12 minutes. The Arklow men were slow to get moving but once they did get into their stride they played some sweet attacking football.

Stephen Hurley fired over a point after 13 minutes and a minute later the corner-forward drilled an unstoppable shot to the net after the opening was created by midfielder Philip Gleeson with a great ball inside the opposing defence.

Philip Healy was set up for a point by the good running of Ciaran Hyland but immediately afterwards he sustained a broken arm in a tackle and the game was held up for over 20 minutes as we waited for an ambulance to take him to hospital.

AGB did not appear to let this mishap affect their composure and they continued from where they had left off with their offensive and attractive football. Niall Mullett, who replaced the injured Healy, got his name on the scoresheet immediately after he was introduced and Philip Gleeson, centre-back Paul O'Donohue and Mullett again added further scores to open up a seven point gap, 1-7 to 0-3, after 23 minutes.

AGB's team formation was a little unorthodox for a gaelic football match to say the least, with the players being lined-out akin to a rugby formation. It appeared to be working and they had Carnew on the ropes at that early stage.

But as so many teams have learned in the past, you can never afford to take the foot off the pedal when playing Carnew or else you may pay a heavy price for such laxness.

Arklow's accelerator did not remain rooted to high revs. They allowed their opponents to get back into the game and Carnew took the opportunity with both hands, reducing the deficit to four points before the break with scores by Ciaran Balfe and Joe Murphy.

Carnew were now very much back in this game and they continued to trade point for point with their opponents after the restart, with Seanie Kinsella particularly impressive at wing-forward.

Yet AGB remained in pole position entering the last ten minutes still ahead by three, 1-11 to 0-11.

Not for the first time during the game Arklow were penalised by the referee in the 53rd minute for a player handling the ball on the ground, but this time it had serious consequences as the alleged offence was inside the 'box'

A penalty to Carnew. County goalie Mervyn Travers and Seanie Kinsella eyeballed each other as the Carnew man stepped up to the spot-kick which he blasted to the back of he net. The sides were again level at 1-11 each.

Entering the last five minutes Hyland put AGB back in front but Carnew tails were up and they struck back for the lead with points by Graham Kehoe and Joe Murphy from another free.

It was nail biting stuff at this stage. Arklow didn't show the white feather and it was Hyland who got on the end of a last desperate attack to secure the final equaliser and ensure a share of the spoils.