Carlow 1-14 Tipperary 1-8  Tipperary's dismal run continued in this one-sided tie at Ardfinnan yesterday. The visitors dominated and took an early lead with points from Simon Rae and John McGrath.

Carlow were dealt a blow in the ninth minute when Peter Kiernan was stretchered off with a suspected shin-bone fracture.

Tipperary took a 1-1 to 0-3 lead in the 18th minute when Benny Hickey hit the opening goal. Tipperary's Declan Browne levelled on 27 minutes with the first of his six points. Carlow hit the front when Rea drilled home their goal, making it 1-5 to 1-3.

In the closing stages of the first half Carlow's Johnny Nevin and Johnny Kavanagh and Tipperary's Brown exchanged scores, leaving the visitors ahead by four points at the break.

Even with the strong wind behind them Tipperary were chasing an improving Carlow, who scored seven points to Tipperary's five after the break.

Carlow: P McGrath; C McCarthy, B Farrell, B English; W Minchin, J Hayden, W Power; P Kiernan, J McGrath (0-2); J Nevin (0-1), D Byrne, Johnny Kavanagh (0-1); S Rea (1-4), P Nolan (0-4), B Kelly. Subs: T Walsh for Kiernan; D Power for Minchin; M Carpenter for Kelly, G Morrissey (0-1) for Byrne; John Kavanagh (0-1) for S Rea.

Tipperary: P Ryan; S Maher, N Kelly, L Cronin; D Byrne, N Fitzgerald, P Hally; A Fitzgerald, F O'Callaghan; K Mulryan, E Hanrahan, B Hickey (1-0); T Doyle (0-1), P Lambert (0-1, free), D Browne (0-6). Subs: P Cahill for Mulryan; L England for Lambert; JP Looby for Hally; M Webster for O'Callaghan.

Referee: R Doone (Antrim).