GAELIC GAMES/Carlow 2-21 Kilkenny 3-1:CARLOW got the points, but there was a three-goal consolation for Kilkenny at Nowlan Park. Carlow looked like winners from early on, Seán Gannon's goal putting them 1-2 to 0-0 clear. Kilkenny's Michael Saunders netted but points from Brian Murphy (two), Gannon (two) and Patrick Hickey left Carlow 1-10 to 1-1 up at half-time.

CARLOW: J Clarke; K Nolan, S Redmond, P Murphy; A Murphy (0-1), T Bolger, P Cashin; W Minchin (0-1), T Walsh (0-4); D Bambrick, P Hickey (0-3), A Curran (0-1); B Murphy (0-2, 0-1 free), S Gannon (1-8), JJ Smith. Subs: P McElligot for Bolger, D St Ledger (1-1, 1-0 pen, 0-1 free) for Smith (both half-time); B Kavanagh for Murphy (48 mins); E Finnegan for Bambrick (50 mins); M Carpenter for D Murphy (54 mins).

KILKENNY: JJ O’Sullivan; D Grennan, R O’Hara, C Foran; D Fitzpatrick, S Kenny, S Mahony; B Kehoe, S Mooney; T Kehoe (1-0), F McEnroe, JJ Grace; P Raftice, M Saunders (1-0), G Lawlor. Subs: T Maher (0-1) for Mooney (inj, 13 mins); P Donnelly for S Mahony (44 mins); D Garvey for McEnroe (48 mins); D Prendergast (1-0) for Lawlor (49 mins); M Buggy for Saunders (56 mins).

Referee: P Daly (Westmeath).