Leinster SHC First Round/Ballyhale 1-14 Mount Leinster 0-12:Ballyhale Shamrocks, the All-Ireland champions, struggled to subdue the stubborn challenge of Carlow's Mount Leinster Rangers in this highly entertaining first round tie played before 2,500 at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, yesterday.

The home side, complete outsiders, matched their highly-rated opponents in most facets of the game, but the Kilkenny side's greater experience and shrewdness eventually saw them win by five points.

Rangers enjoyed more of the play in the opening half but both sides were guilty of some poor finishing: the Carlow champs shot eight wides and Shamrocks seven in the half.

On eight minutes Shamrocks pounced for the game's only goal. A TJ Reid free was not cleared from the Rangers goalmouth and Patrick Reid, the Shamrocks captain, swept a superb ground shot to the net.

Rangers did not lose their shape or composure and matched their fancied opponents score for score for the rest of the half, with only two points separating the sides at the interval (1-5 to 0-6).

Within four minutes of the restart a Willie Hickey point from play and a pointed free by Denis Murphy levelled the game and Shamrocks looked a little rattled.

But the experience and an extra edge saw them regain the initiative.

BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS: J Connolly; P Shefflin, E Walsh, P Holden; M Dermody (0-1), A Cummins, K Nolan; B Costelloe, M Fennelly; TJ Reid (0-7, six frees), Eamonn Fitzpatrick (0-1), M Aylward; E Reid (0-1), P Reid (1-2), C Fennelly. Subs: D Hoyne (0-2) for Aylward; J Walsh for Fitzpatrick; G Fennelly for Costelloe; L Grant for C Fennelly; A Walsh for Holden.

MOUNT LEINSTER RANGERS: F Foley; T Murphy, G Doyle, HP O'Byrne; R Coady, B Nolan, E Coady (0-1); J Hickey (0-1, line cut), P Nolan; D Byrne (0-1), J Coady, D Phelan; D Murphy (0-5, four frees, one 65), W Hickey (0-2), M Ralph. Subs: SM Murphy (0-1) for P Nolan; Edward Byrne for D Byrne; C O'Byrne (0-1) for Ralph.

Referee: A Stapleton (Laois)