Mount Leinster Rangers and Bagenalstown Gaels defeated Naomh Eoin and St Mullins respectively in an actioned packed day of hurling at Netwatch Cullen Park in the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Carlow SHC.
Favourites for another county championship Mount Leinster Rangers took on Naomh Eoin in the opening game of a double-header in Carlow Town on Sunday.
Littered with a number of intercounty stars and with a strong wind assisting them, Rangers went in at the half-time break five points ahead at 2-08 to 0-09 despite being down to 14-men due to a red card on the cusp of the half-time whistle.
The extra man did not do much to improve Naomh Eoin’s fortunes however, as Rangers utilised their experience and nous to get over the line and claim a deserved victory against a spirited Naomh Eoin team, Mount Leinster Rangers 2-14 to 0-16 Naomh Eoin.
In the evening’s second encounter, a rejuvenated Bagenalstown Gaels proved too strong for St Mullins.
The first half was a much tighter affair than the second with only a point separating the sides at the interval, St Mullins 1-05 to 0-07 Bagenalstown Gaels.
However, the men from Bagenalstown were a different side in the second half as they raced into an early lead before finishing the stronger of the two sides to come away with an impressive scalp, St Mullins 1-11 to 0-20 Bagenalstown Gaels.