Limerick scored only two points from play but managed to sneak past Carlow in a tight contest at the Gaelic Grounds.

Ian Ryan was the match winner for Maurice Horan’s men with seven points, all frees – hitting the winner two minutes from the end.

Carlow claimed the opening two points courtesy of Brian Murphy and William Minchin. Ryan and Eoghan O'Connor levelled it for Limerick. Nothing separated the sides twice more before Carlow had points Benny Kavanagh and Kieran Nolan had the visitors in front 0-7 to 0-5 at the interval.

Goalkeeper Brian Scanlon made a finger tip save to push Nolan's effort over the bar and seconds into the second half he pointed a '45'.

Just as Limerick scored only two points from play in the game, Carlow had only a single Martin Doyle point from play after 50 minutes with their other second half score being Darragh Foley’s third free on 47 minutes.