Tipperary collected their first points of the campaign when they proved too strong for a disappointing Carlow in a one-sided tie at Ardfinnan yesterday.

Reduced to 14 men for the closing 13 minutes following the red carding of midfielder Liam England, Tipperary, who led 2-11 to 0-5 at the break, failed to score in the second half. However, they had done enough in the opening 35 minutes to see off the sporadic Carlow challenge.

Early Tipperary pressure produced points from Peter Lambert, John Carroll and Liam England and with Colm Hayden and Paul Doyle responding for Carlow, the home side led 0-5 to 0-2 after 15 minutes.

Centre forward Mark Sheahan, from the St Sylvester's club in Dublin, sent Tipperary on their way with a superb goal after 18 minutes and the game ended as a contest when a slick passing movement between John Carroll and Peter Lambert set Sheahan up for his second goal after 33 minutes, making it 2-9 to 0-5.

Further points from England and Damian O'Brien gave the home side a 2-11 to 0-5 lead at the break. Carlow picked up when play resumed and points from Philip Nolan (2), Pat Nolan, Sean Kavanagh and Jody Morrissey reduced arrears, but Carlow never seriously threatened to make up the deficit.

The fact that the premier county side failed to score in the second half and were still comfortable winners at the end tells its own story.

TIPPERARY: P Ryan; M O'Brien, N Kelly, L Cronin; B Hahessy, D Peters, D Byrne; F O'Callaghan (0-1), L England (0-2); T Connors, M Sheahan (2-0), D O'Brien (0-5); P Lambert (0-1), J Carroll (0-2), P K Lanigan. Subs: K Dempsey for T Connors, S Maher for P J Lanigan; D Duggan for D O'Brien.

CARLOW: J Clarke; B Farrell, T Brennan, V Fleming; B Hannon, S Kavanagh (0-1), J Kavanagh; Philip Nolan (0-2), D Bermingham; P Doyle (0-1), J Morrissey (0-3), J Byrne; J Nevin, C Hayden (0-2), M Dowling. Subs: Pat Nolan (0-1) for J Nevin; R Donnelly for M Dowling; P O'Dwyer for Brennan; A Kavanagh for Hayden.

Referee: G Kinneavy (Roscommon).