Unfancied Carlow provided northern visitors, Monaghan, with a shock at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, yesterday, as the home county claimed both points, thanks to a late point from Sean Kavanagh.

Carlow were very wasteful in the opening 15 minutes while Monaghan scored with every opportunity. Carlow's accuracy improved and a Pat Nolan goal in the 26th minute took them to a 1-5 to 0-4 half-time lead. However, within 20 seconds of the restart, Monaghan's star forward, Declan Smith, set up Dick Clerkin for a goal and when Smith opportunistic opportunist Johnny Nevin goal, 19 minutes into the half, restored Carlow's lead. There was late drama when Monaghan substitute, Ian Larmer, levelled the match within seconds of his introduction.

But then up popped Kavanagh to shoot the winning point and give Carlow their second brace of league points in three outings.

CARLOW: J Clarke; B Hayden, B Farrell, V Fleming; J Hughes, J Byrne, B Hannan; Philip Nolan, P Kingston; J Morrissey, S Kavanagh (0-2), Pat Nolan (1-1), M Dowling (0-2), J Nevin (1-1), B Kelly. Subs: R Donnelly (0-1) for P Nolan (injured), D Bermingham for Kelly, P Doyle for Dowling, J Kavanagh for Hughes, S O'Brien for Pat Nolan.

MONAGHAN: D McCarville; G McQuaid, D McDermott, P Doyle; D Duffy (0-1), R Tracey, D Connolly, C McCaul, R Ronaghan, D McArdle, P O'Con- nor (0-1), D Clerkin (1-1), B McGinnity, D Smith (0-3), D Swift. Sub: J Coyle for Connolly, S McManus for O'Connor, I Larmer (1-0) for Swift (injured).

Referee: M Ryan (Limerick).