Laois have been crowned Allianz Hurling League Division 2 winners after defeating Kerry in Portlaoise.
Tommy Fitzgerald's charges needed a last-gasp Cormac Byrne score to beat the Kingdom in the regulation phase of this competition, but there was no repeat here as they blew their Christy Ring opponents away to conclude their league campaign with a 100% record.
The hosts made a dream start against the wind with two goals coming in the opening five minutes.
The first was batted in by Tomás Keyes after he reacted first to a blocked down effort from Ryan Mullaney and raced clear under the stand before finishing cleverly.
And the second then came when a free from Podge Delaney was batted down by Mullaney and Cillian Dunne unleashed a thunderbolt into the bottom corner.
It should have been three a minute later too as Aidan Corby ended up free inside the 21 but shot wide when he had Aaron Dunphy free for a tap-in inside him.
Kerry did score points from Jordan Brick and Liam Óg O'Connor but two Aaron Dunphy frees and a wonderful Keyes point left Laois 2-03 to 0-02 ahead after 15 minutes.
Laois continued to grow their lead as the half went on with Keyes, Aaron Dunphy and Jack Kelly all pointing from varying angles.
But the Munster side stayed somewhat in touch as Michael Leane, Brick, Ronan Walsh and Michael Slattery all used the breeze to point from distance.
Laois were by far the better team as Corby, Cody Comerford and Kelly added to the scoresheet by half-time.
With Dunphy leading the line excellently from full-forward, Laois led 2-11 to 0-08 at half time but would now have the aid of the strong breeze.
And that was a telling factor as the midlanders essentially put the game to bed by the 41st minute.
Dunphy pointed a free and then Kerry hit three wides before an effort from Fiachra C-Fennell from 60 metres out was fumbled into the net by goalkeeper Conor Bohane.
The game really petered out after that with Laois going scoreless for 15 minutes before Dunphy landed a brace.
The visitors had loads of chances in that period but aside from two Liam O'Connor frees and a score from Tom Doyle, their shooting was erratic which left Laois 13 clear with 57 minutes played.
The gap was extended by one more before the end as Laois were crowned champions.
Laois: Cathal Dunne; Ian Shanahan, Lee Cleere, Cody Comerford (0-1); Ciaran McEvoy, Podge Delaney, Fiachra C-Fennell (1-0); David Dooley (0-1), Aidan Corby (0-1); James Keyes, Jack Kelly (0-1), Ryan Mullaney; Cillian Dunne (1-0), Aaron Dunphy (0-11, 7fs), Tomas Keyes (1-2).
Subs: Ben Conroy (0-1) for J Keyes (49), Martin Phelan for Dunne (50), Gearoid Lynch for Kelly (55), Cormac Byrne for Corby (62), Diarmaid Conway for Shanahan (65).
Kerry: Conor Bohane; Eric Leen, Sean McGrath, Kyle O'Connor; James O'Connor, Jason Diggins, Michael Leane (0-1); Kevin Goulding, Ronan Walsh (0-3, 2fs); Tom Doyle (0-1), Colin Walsh, Jordan Brick (0-2); Liam Óg O Connor (0-4, 3fs), Daniel Casey, Michael Slattery (0-1).
Subs: Adam Segal for Goulding (39), Ivan Conway for R Walsh and Padraig Boyle (0-1) for Slattery (both 55), Evan Murphy for Diggins (63), Luke Rochford for Brick (69).
Referee: Niall Malone (Clare).
