Two good ties are down for decision in the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Junior Hurling Championship semi-finals in Netwatch Cullen Park on Friday evening 

Three late frees by Marty Kavanagh clinched a win over Down in Ballycran and leaves Carlow needing just one more win from their final two games to secure a place in the McDonagh Cup Final at Croke Park

For the second week in a row, Carlow scored four goals as they won in the McDonagh Cup

Carlow's potential route to this year's Joe McDonagh Cup Final in Croke Park has been laid out

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