O'Hanrahan's of Carlow, the defending Leinster club football champions, put in a storming second-half to blow away the challenge of Kilkenny's Muckalee in this first round at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow yesterday.

With the sides tied 0-4 each on 20 minutes Muckalee struck with a John Dooley goal. O'Hanrahan's responded with three points in as many minutes from David Bermingham, Anthony Keating and Mark Carpenter to leave the scores level, 0-7 to 1-4, at the interval.

When, in the 37th minute Pa Kavanagh completed another flowing movement by boxing the ball for goal it was touched by Muckalee goalkeeper Stephen Murphy into his net.

O'HANRAHAN'S: J Brennan; B English, A Corden, V English; K Kavanagh, K Walker, W Kinsella; P Nolan, A Bowe (1-0); G Walker, P Kavanagh (1-5), D Birmingham (0-2); S Farrell (0-1), A Kavanagh (0-4), M Carpenter (0-3), Subs: J Lennon for G Walker (inj); B Walker (2-0) for Birmingham; N English for B English; P Nolan for Bowe, J Nolan for A Kavanagh.

MUCKALEE: S Murphy; R Nolan, G Doyle, N Purcell; D Quinlan, N Maloney, L Dowling; A Murphy (0-1), D Comerford; P Maher, J Maher (0-2), S Coonan; P Keegan (0-2), J Dooley (1-0), T Morrissey (0-1). Subs: C Daly for Doyle; P Brennan for Comerford; D Brennan for P Maher; B Maher for Purcell.

Referee: M Deegan (Laois).