The howling gale at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, dominated this match and militated against good hurling. Wicklow, playing with the wind, got the tonic of an eighth-minute goal from Joe Murphy.

Don Highland scored a second Wicklow goal later in the half.

Within three minutes of the restart, Carlow were awarded a penalty. Pat Coady struck a superb ground shot to the corner of the Wicklow net. Micheal Ryan got their second goal midway through the half.

Carlow: P Fenlon; N Bambrick, T Doyle, P Kehoe; M Farrell, C Jordan, J Nevin; R Foley (0- 1), D Kavanagh; P Coady (1-7), M Ryan (1-1), D Roberts (0-1); C Cody, P Jordan, B Lawlor. Sub: J Kavanagh for Lawlor.

Wicklow: C Byrne; L Byrne, D Moran, J Byrne; R Doyle, MA O'Neill, MJ O'Neill; T McGrath, J O'Neill (0-1); G Bermingham, J Murphy (1-1), J Kehoe (0-1); T Collins, D Hyland (1-0), M Moran (0-1). Subs: W Gorman for M J O'Neill, S O'Neill for Doyle.

Referee: J Guinan (Kilkenny).