A new look Kilkenny with DJ Carey starting his first competitive game in defence defeated a youthful Laois outfit 0-19 to 1-09 with the minimum of effort to stay at the top of Division 1A.
Laois however, still seek their first win of the competition and after this defeat will do well to avoid relegation.
The first half started well for the men from Laois with Mark Rooney driving to the net after just five minutes. Points from John Hoyne and DJ Carey brought the game level before James young produced three wonderful frees to give Laois some comfort.
Points from DJ Carey and Willie O’Dwyer soon reduced Laois’ lead to the minimum before a James Young point showed the Laois supporters that this was going to be no walkover. Kilkenny soon turned it around ad were back in the lead on thirty minutes by way of a Jimmy Coogan free.
Coogan had time to add another before the break to see his Kilkenny side go in at the break leading by 0-10 to 1-5. Kilkenny seemed to be almost too relaxed in the first half and were very slow to get going but when the question was asked of them they picked up well and were deserving of their half time lead.
Laois got the second half scoring underway with a James Young ‘65. Kilkenny replied by introducing ace forwards Eddie Brennan and James ”Cha” Fitzpatrick and were rewarded for this selection soon after when Brennan put Kilkenny three points to the good.
While the first half belonged to the forwards the second was certainly becoming property of the defences with Tommy Walsh of Kilkenny giving an exhibition of cut outs and clearances.
John Maher got Kilkenny’s third point of the half with a fine long range effort and suddenly Kilkenny seemed to be coasting. D.J Carey and James Young traded ‘65’s for their respective sides before a fine DJ Carey free from midfield saw the Noresiders take a five point lead.
With wins over both Waterford and Galway under their belt it was getting ever closer to Kilkenny’s third win in a row and a Derek Lyng point on 25 minutes seemed to put them safe.
With plenty of big game experience under their belts Kilkenny pulled away even more and points from John Maher and Jimmy Coogan saw Kilkenny race into an unassailable lead.
Eamonn Jackman and James Young scored two late points for Laois before Eddie Brennan restored parity to raise the final white flag of the game and see Kilkenny run out victors on a score line of 0 - 20 to 1 - 9.
Kilkenny: J McGarry, J Ryall, N Hickey, T Walsh, M Kavanagh, DJ Carey, JJ Delaney, D Lyng, B Barry, M Comerford, J Maher, W O’Dwyer, J Coogan, J Hoyne, A Fogarty. Subs: B Hogan for M Kavanagh, J Fitzpatrick for W O’Dwyer and E Brennan for A Fogarty.
Laois: P Mullaney, B Campion, P Cuddy, P Mahon, J Fitzpatrick, S Dwyer, M McEvoy, J Young, J Walsh, C Coonan, J Rowney, C Brophy, D Culleton, M Rooney, P Russell. Subs: E Jackman for P Russell, J O’Shea for D Culliton and C Clear for J Walsh.
