Pat Bennett's team needed to beat Dublin in the final round to have any chance of avoiding the drop to Division 2A but despite scoring two first half goals they eventually fell to a 14 point defeat

Carlow a set of highly unlikely results in the final round to avoid relegation after they were beaten by Kildare in Newbridge

Victory on Sunday would almost certainly assure Carlow of their place in Division 1B of the National League next season

Carlow manager Pat Bennett felt his team gave as good as they got in their defeat to Wexford

There was only four points between Carlow and Wexford with four minutes remaining but a late penalty helped the hosts record a convincing win

The starting XV shows one change from the team that beat Down in the opening round of the National League

Second half goals by John Michael Nolan and Donagh Murphy meant a winning start for Pat Bennett at a rain sodden Netwatch Cullen Park