Kilkenny show their class as Laois lose out at home

It proved to be all one way traffic as Kilkenny outclassed Laois in a very one sided Allianz National Hurling League game in Portlaoise.

For Laois, it signals the third defeat of this year’s league campaign. The O’Moore men will be looking toward the Antrim game on March 12, as they aim to retain their Division 1 status in Willie Maher’s first season as manager of Laois.

Kilkenny 0-31

Laois 1-18

Kilkenny did all the ground work in the opening half as they led 0-21 to 0-7 with the likes of Paddy Mullen, John Donnelly and Billy Drennan all starring for the Cats.

Laois looked to be someway competitive early on when trailing 0-5 to 0-3 but a mixture of an improved Kilkenny workrate and intensity as well as slack home defensive play meant the winners knocked over points for fun.

Laois did net a second half goal from Patrick Purcell but it proved to only be a consolation as Kilkenny ran out convincing winners with 13 players in total getting on the scoresheet for the winners.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny- Billy Drennan (0-11, three frees), Eoin Cody (0-4, two frees), Martin Keoghan (0-4), John Donnelly (0-3), Billy Ryan, Paddy Deegan, Paddy Mullen (0-2 each), Eoin Murphy (0-1, one free), Padraig Walsh, Tommy Walsh, Cillian Buckley, Gearoid Dunne, Alan Murphy (0-1 each)

Laois- Stephen Maher (0-10, eight frees and one 65), Patrick Purcell (1-1), Enda Rowland (0-2, two frees), Fiachra C Fennell, Tomas Keyes, James Keyes, Ryan Mullaney, Aaron Dunphy (0-1 each)

Kilkenny- Eoin Murphy; Niall Rowe, Conor Delaney, Padraig Walsh; Tommy Walsh, Richie Reid, Cillian Buckley; Paddy Deegan, Paddy Mullen; Billy Ryan, John Donnelly, Eoin Cody; Billy Drennan, Martin Keoghan, Gearoid Dunne.

Subs- Shane Murphy for T.Walsh h-t, Alan Murphy for Mullen 46 mins, Timmy Clifford for Dunne 51 mins, Walter Walsh for Drennan 56 mins, Cian Kenny for Donnelly 62 mins.

Laois- Enda Rowland; Donnchadh Hartnett, Padraig Delaney, Fiachra C Fennell; Padraic Dunne, Patrick Purcell, Ian Shanahan; Liam O'Connell, Tomas Keyes; James Keyes, Jack Kelly, Ryan Mullaney; Ross King, Martin Phelan, Stephen Maher.

Subs- Padraig Lalor for Dunne h-t, Aaron Dunphy for Fennell h-t, Eanna Lyons for J.Keyes 44 mins, James Duggan for T.Keyes 52 mins, Dan Delaney for King 65 mins.

Referee- Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)