Kilkenny hurlers made heavy weather of beating unfashionable neighbours Carlow in this Oireachtas tie at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow yesterday. A shock win looked possible when Carlow led 0-7 to 0-1 at half-time, having played with the benefit of the elements. Kilkenny had been very ineffective in attack and their only first-half score was a point from play by wing forward Damian Cleere. By comparison, all six Carlow forwards had scored by the interval.

However, the introduction of Adrian Ronan to the Kilkenny attack for the second half added bite to the visitors' forward line. Within seven minutes of the restart, Kilkenny had recorded points from Damian Cleere, Ronan and Ollie O'Connor (2) before Cleere put them in front for the first time with a 39th-minute goal.

Carlow were unable to raise a second-half flag and found it impossible to break down a very stubborn Kilkenny defence. A 48th-minute goal from Ollie O'Connor sealed Kilkenny's win and gave them a second Oireachtas win - they previously beat Laois and lost to Galway.

Kilkenny: J McGarry; T Hickey, P O'Neill, L Simpson; J Costelloe, P Larkin, E O'Dwyer; A Comerford, D O'Neil; R Moore, J Dooley, D Cleere 1-2; O O'Connor 1-4, J Carey, S Ryan 0-1. Subs: A Ronan 0-2 for Moore, C Phelan for Comerford.

Carlow: A Corcoran; J Leamy, M Farrell, T Meaney; T Doyle, J Nevin, F Byrne; M Kelly, D Kavanagh; T Shiels 0-1, C Kealy 0-1, P Coady 0-1; C Coady 0-1, D Murphy 0-2, D Wall 0-1. Subs M Ryan for Kelly, V English for C Coady, K Griffith for Wall.

Referee: J Kelly (Westmeath).