Kilkenny made serious gains while playing against the elements in the first half to triumph at Freshford yesterday.

Laois had amassed 12 wides by half-time, and trailed 0-3 to 1-4 at that stage. D J Carey was the architect of Kilkenny's impressive haul and had a hand in all their scores. In his role as targetman at full forward, he set up Henry Shefflin's 20th minute goal, giving Kilkenny a 1-2 to 0-2 lead.

Kilkenny were dominant to the break, and Shefflin extended their lead immediately after the restart with another point. Kilkenny put the issue beyond doubt in the 52nd minute when Ken O'Shea netted to put the score at 2-8 to 0-4.

Kilkenny: J McGarry; J Butler, S Meally, P Mullally; R Moore, E Kennedy, P Barry; A Comerford, S Grehan, (0-1); K O'Shea (1-1), H Shefflin (1-6), B McEvoy; N Moloney (0-2), D J Carey (0-1), J Phelan. Subs: P O'Neill for Butler, M Gordon for Shefflin, E Brennan for Comerford.

Laois: J Lyons; P J Peacock, S Dooley, D Dowling; E Browne, P Mahon, L McGrath; J Phelan, D Conroy; C Cuddy (0-2), O Dowling, D Russell; R Jones , J Coogan (0-2), S Conroy . Subs: D Rooney for Phelan, J Young for Jones, E Maher for Coogan, N Lacey (0-1) for Russell, A Coffey for Conroy.

Referee: D Murphy (Wexford).