Carlow prove far too strong for error-prone Kilkenny

Carlow were clearly the better team, but were helped run up a decent score by error-prone Kilkenny in Freshford.

The winners led 0-8 to 0-3 at the break and then 10 minutes into the second half Kilkenny gave away a silly penalty, which was smashed to the net by J.J. Smith.

Kilkenny hit back for points from Stephen Duggan and Graham Lawlor but then Cormac Mullins finished to the net for Carlow Graham Lawlor pulled back a goal for the losers, but Carlow added a third goal in the 63rd minute through Sean Gannon.

Scores for Carlow: J.J. Smith (1-3, goal penalty, point free); C. Mullins (1-3); S. Gannon (1-1); E. Ruth (0-2); D. Foley, D. Hayden (0-1 each).

Kilkenny: G. Lawlor (1-3, two points frees), S. Duggan, J. Fennelly, M. Malone (0-1 each).

CARLOW: A. O’Brien; B.J. Molloy, P. McElligott, G. Nolan; B. Kavanagh, D. Mulvanny, B. Lambe; P. Reade, D. Foley; D. Walshe, C. Murphy, E. Ruth; S. Gannon, C Mullins, J.J. Smith.

Subs: D. Hayden for Reade; B. Murphy for Walsh; P. Murphy for Molloy; E. Finnegan for Mullins.

KILKENNY: D. Garvey; D. Grennan, O. Walsh, K. O’Brien; J. Dollard, M. Malone, J.J. Grace; R. O’Hara, P. McBride; S. Duggan, R. O’Keeffe, R. Shore; J. Fennelly, J. Culleton, G. Lawlor.

Subs: G. Smith for Dollard; C. Tyler for O’Keeffe.

Refere: N Mooney (Cavan).