This game was on a knife edge throughout, with the sides level on eight occasions during a frantic 70 minutes of highly entertaining hurling.

Shane Kavanagh and Denis Murphy bagged the vital scores for Carlow to ensure they claimed their third win of the current campaign.

Despite the close nature of this contest, it was Wexford who blazed an early trail with Colm Bonnar's men keen to get off to a positive start.

A brace of points from Diarmuid 'Gizzy' Lyng and a Peter Acheson score set Wexford off nicely, but Carlow were working strongly from defence.

Kavanagh and Richie Coady made some fine clearances and were rewarded at the opposite end as a brace of points each from Paudie Kehoe and Andrew Gaule levelled the contest at 0-4 apiece in the 10th minute.

Carlow took a late lead approaching the break, but Lyng was once again on target for the visitors to tie the contest at 0-8 apiece at the interval.

The game continued to be a tight affair in the second half, although Wexford hit a purple patch on the restart. Harry Kehoe had a goal chance, but was met with a fine save by Carlow goalkeeper Kevin Kehoe, with the ball sent out for a '65'.

Wexford persevered as Lyng converted the '65', with Wexford edging 0-12 to 0-10 clear by the 44th minute following two further scores from Lyng.

However, the visitors could only manage one further point, as Lyng brought his tally to nine points, with Carlow outscoring Wexford by six points to one in the closing quarter.

Kavanagh added three points from frees, while Murphy was on target with two excellent points from play late on, as Carlow claimed a famous win.