Carlow get vital win at Blackrock

Blackrock College 17, Co Carlow 24

Blackrock College got their season off to the worst possible start as they went down to Carlow, mainly due to an excellent first-half display from the visitors, at Stradbrook today.

Two tries from Maurice Logue and one from Michael Swetman, allied with the accurate boot of Ben Young ensured they led 24-14 at the break.

Aidan McSweeney and Rory Rogers got the Blackrock tries but their inability to capitalise on their second-half possession proved costly, with their only score coming from a Conor Kilroy penalty.

Their forwards suffered from the loss of prop Gareth Fitzgerald, who was sent-off after 33 minutes due to the intervention of linesman Paul Clinch, after a six-man melee.