KEHOE CUP (SH) FINAL: Meath 1-20 Carlow 0-17: A FORTUITOUS goal on the cusp of half-time by the outstanding Niall Hackett sealed Carlow's fate and put Meath firmly on the road to claiming the Kehoe Cup for the eighth time at O'Moore Park yesterday.

Hackett took the scoring honours with a tally of 1-8, and though all bar one point of that total came from placed balls, it was his ability to punish Carlow indiscretions that proved the difference between the sides.

MEATH: S Quinn; M Foley, E Fitzgerald, M Horan; K Dowd, A Ryan, T Fox (0-1); A Snow, D Crimmins (0-2); N Hackett (1-8, 1-6 from frees, 0-1 from a 65), N Horan (0-1), S Clynch (0-4); G O'Neill, N Kirby, M Cole (0-4). Subs: P Geoghan for Snow (20 mins); S Donoghue for Kirby (66); K Dunphy for O'Neill (70); P Gannon for Crimmins inj. (70+2).

CARLOW: Mark Ryan; Michael Ryan, D Shaw, J Rodgers; E Coady, S Kavanagh 0-2 (frees), R Coady; D Roberts (0-2), K English; A Brennan (0-1), C Hughes (0-3), P Kehoe; S Murphy (0-1), R Foley (0-5), B Lawler 0-2 (one free). Subs: J Coady for English (22 mins); L Kenny for Michael Ryan (35+1); J Doran (0-1)Kehoe (half-time); J Kavanagh for Lawler (55); D Byrne for Murphy (67).

Referee: T Carroll(Offaly).