Carlow 0-18 Wicklow 0-13 Carlow and Wicklow served up a good Leinster derby at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, last evening before the home side triumphed as the game ebbed and flowed until Carlow gained late control.

Wicklow hit three early points before Carlow drew level and from there on it was score for score with Wicklow dominating in midfield through Daragh Ó hAnnaidh and Gary Jameson and Anthony Nolan kicked some superb points from play.

Nolan was denied a goal on 22 minutes through a brilliant save by Carlow goalkeeper James Clarke and by half-time Carlow were the happier side to go in on level terms - 0-9 each.

Carlow forward Simon Rea was in superb form, scoring 0-7, six from play, while Johnny Nevin, Mark Carpenter and Brian Kelly chipped in with 0-3 each.

Carlow held a three-point lead as the game entered injury time. Wicklow centre forward Tommy Gill hit the crossbar as the home side finished with points from substitute John McGrath and man-of-the-match Simon Rea.

CARLOW: J Clarke; C McCarthy, B English, V Fleming; J Hayden, J Kehoe, W Power; D Byrne, T Walsh; J Nevin (0-3), M Carpenter (0-3), J Kavanagh; S Rea (0-7, one free), W Minchin (0-2), B Kelly (0-3, frees), Subs: P Nolan for Fleming, J McGrath for Minchin

WICKLOW: R Hollingsworth; C Hyland, E O'Neill, A Byrne; C Davis (0-1), T Burke, B Flynn (0-1); D Ó hAnnaidh (0-1), G Jameson; B Mernagh, T Gill (0-3, frees), P Dalton (0-1, free); P Cronin, D McGillycuddy (0-1), A Nolan (0-5). Subs: B Canavan for Flynn (inj), J Slattery for McGillycuddy, C Murphy for Burke, D Dempsey for Jameson

Referee: M Ryan (Limerick).