Carlow 1-17 Antrim 0-10:John Meyler's reign as Carlow hurling manager got off to a winning start at a bitter Dr Cullen Park yesterday as his side were deserving winners over Antrim in an entertaining tie.

With a strong spine to the team, Carlow took first half control and with their forwards showing deadly accuracy, stormed into a 0-7 to 0-2 lead. By the break they were 0-11 to 0-6 to the good – a half highlighted by a superb point from a line cut by Antrim wingback Kevin McKiernan.

Three minutes into the second half, great stickwork by Marty Kavanagh set up Paul Coady for a simple tap-in to the Antrim net, to extend the home lead. By that stage all starting six home forwards had made the scoresheet.

Antrim tried hard but were unable to unlock a solid home defence in which full-back Eoin Nolan and half-backs Richard and Edward Coady were outstanding while Saffrons goalie Ryan McGarry saved his side from a rout.

CARLOW: N Roberts; H P O’Byrne, E Nolan, D Shaw; J O’Hara, R Coady, E Coady; D English (0-1), J Kavanagh; S Murphy (0-2), S Kavanagh (0-1), M Kavanagh (0-7, 0-2 frees, 0-2 65s); P Nolan (0-2), J M Nolan (0-4), P Coady (1-0). Subs: B Treacy for Roberts (58 mins), D Roberts for P Coady (61 mins) A Gaule for P Nolan (65 mins), D Byrne for Murphy (67 mins) K McCabe for E Coady (69 mins).

ANTRIM: R McGarry; M Gettens, C Carson, B McFall; K McKiernan (0-2, 0-1 sl cut), C McGinley, K McKeague; C Rea (0-1), S McRory; S Beaty, N McManus (0-4, 0-2 frees, 0-1 65), KB McShane; D McClean, P Doherty (0-2, frees), S McNaughton (0-1). Subs: M Donnelly for Gettens, N Peoples for McKeague, C Morgan for Rea, C McFall for McClean (all half-time), P Shiels for McShane (51 mins). Referee: J Owens (Wexford).