Carlow commenced their Joe McDonagh Cup campaign with a 4-17 to 1-17 win over Laois at Netwatch Cullen Park this evening.

James Doyle and Fiachra Fitzpatrick registered goals that saw the home side lead by 2-9 to 0-8 at half-time, but the Division 2 champions fought back after the change of ends with a Ben Conroy goal being backed up by points from Aaron Dunphy and Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher to level matters.

Chris Nolan and Martin Kavanagh, who finished with 0-9, pushed the Barrowsiders back in front and the former would register his side’s third goal in the 57th minute prior to Conor Kehoe raising another green flag to cement the opening win.

Chris Nolan puts a hole in the net with that strike!💥

High ball in and chaos in the square as the Carlow man turns and pulls on it💪@Carlow_GAA | #ClubberTV📺 pic.twitter.com/qJvAmUMA3z

— Clubber (@clubber) April 18, 2026

Earlier in the day, Meath picked up their first win in this year’s Christy Ring Cup by inflicting Roscommon with their second defeat (0-28 to 2-12) in Ballyforan.

Tom Shine starred with 0-12 for the Royals, who led by 0-14 to 1-6 at half-time, with Conor Morris, Adam Donnelly and Shine raising the winners’ tally to 0-20 before Micheál Hussey bagged the Rossies’ second goal.

From there, the score of Lorcan Byrne, Joey Cole and Shine would help Meath comfortably see out an important win.

Mikey Cole over the shoulder and over the bar 💥@MeathGAA cruising into the second half with a 9-Point lead 🟢

Watch the Second-Half live NOW on https://t.co/QU7uPhpieW 📺 pic.twitter.com/daTCwmfSM0

— Clubber (@clubber) April 18, 2026

In the Nickey Rackard Cup, Sligo secured their first win of the campaign by emphatically defeating Louth at Markievicz Park.

It finished 1-31 to 0-10 in favour of the Yeats men for whom Andrew Kilcullen struck a dozen points and Patrick Walsh registered the goal with five minutes remaining, while the fourth-tier’s other game saw Fermanagh get themselves up and running with a 2-20 to 1-22 win against Armagh in Kinawley.

Corn Nickey Rackard Cup

Babhta 2

Fermanagh -v- Armagh
2-20 -v- 1-22 FT#ArdMhachaAbú #BringTheOrange pic.twitter.com/wkmJ1TsHaY

— Armagh_GAA (@Armagh_GAA) April 18, 2026

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