Kilkenny side Dicksboro took a shock 21 to 0-0 lead over O'Hanrahan's, before t he Carlow champions came back in style to win this first round tie at windswept Dr Cullen Park, Carlow yesterday.

But O'Hanrahan's steadied the ship and, with Pa Kavanagh an outstanding playmaker, they gained a grip and were only 2-2 to 0-7 in arrears at half-time.

O'Hanrahan's shot 2-3 without reply in the second half as Dicksboro failed to score for the final 39 minutes of the game.

O'HANRAHAN'S: J Brennan; B English, A Corden, V English; B Hannon, N English, K Kavanagh; P Nolan, K Walker; G Walker, A Bowe (1-2), P Kavanagh (0-4); M Carpenter (0-2), A Kavanagh (0-2), S Farrell. Subs: B Quigley for Farrell, D Bermingham (1-0) for V English, P Nolan for A Kavanagh.

DICKSBORO: J Wyse; B Lalor, T Henderson, David Beirne; D Cremin, D Carroll, David Carroll; J O'Gorman (0-2), B Kennedy; C O'Loughlin (1-0), S Kennedy (1-0), Dermot Beirne; C Philpott , N Morrissey, G Roberts. Subs: J Maher for Philpott, S Rochford for B Kennedy, L McCormack for David Carroll.

Referee: E Whelan (Laois).