Brendan Murphy shows his class as Carlow get past Wicklow

Carlow 1-17 Wicklow 1-12

Brendan Murphy kicked 1-4 and Darragh Foley eight points as Carlow enjoyed a convincing qualifier win over Wicklow.

Murphy's early goal set the tone, powering forward from his midfield berth and blasting past Robert Lambert in the Wicklow goal.

Foley was accurate from frees though Wicklow had a foothold when Paul Cunningham goaled and Wickow went in at the break four down, 1-9 to 1-5.

Foley added two from play after the interval to stretch the gap, though Darren Hayden responded with a brace for Wickow.

And they were almost right back in it, but Carlow keeper Robbie Molloy repelled another Cunningham goal chance.

But Murphy continued to make his class tell and two late points out the seal on a fine display.

Scorers – Carlow: D Foley 0-8 (5f), B Murphy 1-4, D St Ledger 0-3 (3f), C Blake, G Power 0-1.

Wicklow: P Cunningham 1-6 (4f), D Hayden, M Kenny 0-2; R Finn, A Murphy 0-1.

Carlow: R Molloy; K Nolan, D St Ledger, BJ Molloy; G Kelly, J Murphy, B Kavanagh; Brendan Murphy, S Gannon; A Kelly, D O’Brien, H Gahan; D Smithers, D Foley (c), C Blake.

Subs: G Power for O’Brien (15 BC), D Moran for G Kelly (53), Brian Murphy for J Murphy (60), J Murphy for Brendan Murphy (66 BC), B Cawley for Gannon (72 BC).

Wicklow: R Lambert; C Hyland, P McLoughlin, A Murphy; J Snell, S Kelly, D Healy; N Gaffney, A McLoughlin; M Kenny, P Cunningham, D Hayden; P Byrne, R Finn (c), M Lennon.

Subs: S Thompson for Lennon (h-t), D Woods for Gaffney (43), R O’Brien for McLoughlin (52), P O’Connor for Finn (59), J Crowe for Hayden (70), M O’Connor for Byrne (70).

Referee: P O’Sullivan (Kerry).