Offaly 3-16 Carlow 1-8:OFFALY ROMPED to a 14-point victory in last night's Leinster under-21 hurling quarter-final in Dr Cullen Park but only after Carlow had given them a real scare in the opening half. The home side took the game to their fancied opponents and led by 1-3 to 1-1 after 10 minutes.

Offaly can thank corner forward Colm Coughlan who scored 2-8 of their tally. His first goal came in the fifth minute, though Carlow hit back and Eoin Minchin netted for them in the 10th minute.

Offaly were fortunate to go in at half-time leading 1-9 to 1-7 but two goals in 60 seconds, both of which could be described as soft, five minutes after the restart deflated the Carlow challenge. Coughlan flicked home the first and substitute Daniel Currams first-timed the second, and these scores helped Offaly to outscore the home team 2-7 to a point from a free in a disappointing second half.

OFFALY: D Kilmartin; C Hernon, C Flannery, S Wynne; D Morkham, B Leonard, G Treacy; C Mahon, J Cashin; D Horan (0-2, one free), C Egan, J Gorman (0-2); E Kerrigan (0-2), D Molloy (0-2), C Coughlan (2-8, six frees). Subs: D Currams (1-0) for Cashin, B Watkins for Morkham, O Kealey for Coughlan, D Molloy for Egan.

CARLOW: D Miley; J Roberts, B Nolan, D Whelan; HP O'Byrne, M Ryan, R Coady; J Rogers, P Walsh (0-2); D Byrne, J Doran (0-1), P Nolan (0-1, free); C Clancy (0-3, two frees), J Kinsella (0-1), E Minchin (1-0). Subs: J Kavanagh for D Byrne, J Gladney for Clancy, D Kelly for O'Byrne.

Referee: A Stapleton (Laois).