Hurling Kehoe Cup/Carlow 3-19 Monaghan 0-7: Carlow hurlers got off to a winning start to the year at Dr Cullen Park yesterday. The home side showed the benefit of their recent training programme with some superb long-range point scoring from play. Monaghan tried hard but trailed 2-12 to 0-4 at half-time.

The second half was a formality for Carlow as they outscored their northern visitors by 1-7 to 0-3, with a total of eight players, including all six forwards, sharing in the scores.

Coach Eoin Garvey could afford the luxury of introducing five second-half substitutes as Carlow progressed to a second-round meeting at home on Sunday next against Roscommon.

CARLOW: P Fenlon; A Gaul, J Nevin, D Shaw; E Coady (0-1), E Kavanagh, S Watchorn; T Minchin, D Roberts (1-1); R Dunbar (0-2), B Coady (0-4), K English (0-6, four frees, one 65); S McMahon (0-1), D Murphy (1-1), B Lawlor (1-3). Subs: M Keating for Kavanagh, B Nolan for Minchin, D O'Leary for McMahon, J Miley for Dunbar, B Murphy for D Murphy.

MONAGHAN: M McHugh; J Bates, J McHugh, F Payne; A Hughes, D Connolly, S Loftus; D Bolger, P Murphy; R Woods (0-1), P McKenna, G Sullivan (0-2); P Clerkin, R Healy (0-3, all frees), S O'Sullivan. Subs: C McGinnity for Bates, D Crowe for McKenna, P Dowdall for Clerkin, J McConnell for S O'Sullivan.

Referee: J Guinan (Kilkenny).