Kilkenny 1-21 Laois 1-10:CHAMPIONS Kilkenny showed no nerves as they cleared the first hurdle in the defence of their Leinster and All-Ireland under-21 hurling titles last night at Nowlan Park. They hit Laois with a powerful second-quarter performance that saw them book their place against Offaly in the semi-finals.
There was little in it early on as Mark Kelly (0-3) and Mark Bergin opened the scoring for Kilkenny, but Laois stayed in contention with points from Willie Hyland (0-2) and wing back Brian Galvin.
Kilkenny upped the tempo and shot nine points to Laois’s two in the 15 minutes before half-time. James Nolan, Bergin (0-3), Paul Murphy, John Mulhall (0-2), James Dowling and Mark Kelly did the damage as Kilkenny moved nine points clear (0-14 to 0-5).
Kilkenny didn’t have to hit the same high notes in the second half, but made sure of progress when Colin Fennelly lashed a shot to the net on 45 minutes. Laois did get a consolation when Willie Hyland netted from a 21-yard free in the dying minutes, but there was no stopping Kilkenny.
KILKENNY: C McGrath; P Murphy (0-1, free), A Kearns, C Fogarty; Lester Ryan, D Langton, M Walsh; J Dowling (0-2), JJ Farrell; C Fennelly (1-0), M Kelly (0-4), Liam Ryan; M Bergin (0-10, eight frees), J Mulhall (0-2), J Nolan (0-1). Subs: P McCarthy for Nolan (47 mins), S Maher for Fennelly (54 mins), N Cleere (0-1) for Kelly (57 mins), P Nolan for Kearns (60 mins).
LAOIS: P Carroll; B Smith, D Maher, J Prior; B Galvin (0-1), M Whelan (0-1), B Stapleton; A Collier, T Burke; C Murray, J O’Loughlin (0-2), W Hyland (1-6, 1-5 frees); G Lanham, G Reddin, D Peacock. Sub: J Gaughan for Collier (8 mins), D OMahoney for Gaughan (38 mins), J Phelan for Lanham (43 mins), T Delaney for Reddin (49 mins), P Kelly for Peacock (60 mins).
Referee: D Hughes (Carlow).
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