DESPITE an abundance of possession, it took Carlow some time to stamp their authority on the scoreboard and see off the challenge of Kilkenny to qualify for this year's final, at Gorey, Co Wexford, yesterday.

Out half Harry Sothern, the star of their quarter final victory over Dundalk, failed on this occasion to translate his goal kicking into points. He was successful with only one out of five first half attempts, to give his side a 3-0 lead at the break.

When Kilkenny's Barry Daly brought the sides level with a penalty within one minute of the restart it looked like producing a titantic second half struggle.

However, they did not have the answer to the powerful play of the Carlow pack who drove superbly, following a series of scrums on the Carlow line, for a pushover try attributed to Jimmy Oliver after 13 minutes.

Sothern followed with a penalty and a drop goal before Kilkenny salvaged some pride with a non converted injury time try from scrum half Pat Crotty.