Wicklow's Kevin O'Brien undermined Carlow's O'Byrne Cup ambition at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow yesterday when he went on an early second half scoring spree.

The Baltinglass club man shot 1-4 in the space of 10 minutes in this quarter-final to bring his team back from a five-point interval deficit and into the lead. By the time the talented O'Brien was sent off midway through the second half for a second bookable offence, his side was firmly on course for a semifinal spot against Leinster champions Offaly or Westmeath.

Carlow, returning to action following the players recent `strike' staged a very impressive opening half.

A superb ninth minute goal from full forward Willie Quinlan provided the boost the side needed and they went on to establish a deserved 1-7 to 1-2 interval lead, having played with the strong wind. But the Carlow team's effort flopped completely in the face of O'Brien's scoring onslaught in the second half. In the end it was easy for Wicklow as Carlow failed to register a second-half score.

Wicklow: L Cullen; E O'Riordan, E White, M Coffey; D Burke, B O'Donovan (1-0), B O hAnnaidh; D Behan, D Gordon; G Murphy, D Coffey, C Daye (0-2); D McMahon (0-2), M Murtagh, K O'Brien (1-5). Subs: K Byrne (0-1) for Murphy; J Behan (0-1) for White; A Mooney for Murtagh.

Carlow: J Clarke; J Hughes, A Corden, B Farrell; C Kelly, S Kavanagh, B Hayden; R Don- nelly (0-1), D Treacy (0-1); J Byrne, N Doyle (0-1), P Nolan (0-2); J O'Toole, L Kelly, W Quinlan (1-1). Subs: D Donoghue for L Kelly; J Nevin (0-1) for O'Toole; P O'Dwyer for Hughes; N Sheehy for Farrell; P Nolan for Treacy.

Referees: B White (Wexford) and E Whelan (Laois).