Kilkenny upped the tempo in the second half to beat Laois 3-20 to 1-9 in this Electric Ireland Leinster MHC quarter-final at Nowlan Park yesterday.

There was little separating the sides until John Walsh scored the games first goal on the stroke of half time. This gave the Cats a 1-9 to 0-7 interval lead.

Two goals in quick succession from Alan Murphy and Kevin Kenny left Laois with a mountain to climb as they trailed 3-9 to 0-7 10 minutes into the second half.

Wing forward Aidan Corby, an All-Ireland winner with St Fergal's, Rathdowney, netted a goal for Laois late on but the hosts had their work done.

Kilkenny under new minor manager Pat Hoban got off to a perfect start.

Kilkenny - D Holohan; J Tyrrell, E Cody, R Fitzpatrick; J Maher, J Stanley, D Joyce; C Ryan (0-2), S Farrell (0-1); K Kenny (1-1), N Mullins, E Kenny (0-1); A Murphy (1-7), L Hennessy (0-4), J Walsh (1-4). Subs: L Blanchfield for Mullins, M Kenny for Farrell, P Cass for Tyrrell, E Brennan for A Murphy, C Wallace for Joyce.

Laois - E Rowland; R Mullaney, C McEvoy, R Broderick; D Palmer, L Bergin (0-1), G Dunne; C Collier, L O'Connell (0-1); C Stapleton (0-2), J Campion (0-2), A Corby (1-0); M Kavanagh (0-3), C Ryan, J. Lennon. Subs: E Cuddy for Dunne, D Cripps for Bergin.

Referee - P O'Dwyer. Tweet

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