Kilkenny 2-18
Laois 0-11

All-Ireland champions Kilkenny will face Dublin in the Leinster MHC final for the second year in-a-row after easing to victory over Laois at Nowlan Park.

Goals in either half from Andy Gaffney and John Donnelly gave the Cats their winning platform and ensured a miserable weekend for Laois, whose senior hurlers and footballers also suffered championship defeats yesterday.

After Mark Kavanagh and Aaron Dunphy had early points for Pat Critchley's underdogs, the hosts reeled off an unanswered 1-6 to take control, with Gaffney's goal propelling them into a 1-4 to 0-2 lead after 12 minutes.

There was a nine-minute stoppage as Laois defender Denis Cahill was treated on the field before being stretchered off. Kavanagh ended Kilkenny's scoring sequence from a free, but the Cats rallied again to go into the break with a 1-11 to 0-5 lead.

The O'Moore County had wind advantage in the second half and reduced the arrears with an early points from Aaron Bergin. But it was all over bar the shouting when Donnelly's 36th minute major made it 2-12 to 0-8 in the Cats' favour.

Kilkenny - S Murphy; M Cody (0-1), T Walsh, C McGrath; D Mullen, D Joyce (0-1), C Doheny; R Leahy (0-2, 1f), J Connolly; A Gaffney (1-6, 0-3f, 0-2'65), J Donnelly (1-2), D O'Connor (0-1); T O'Dwyer (0-1), J Cuddihy (0-2), N Walsh (0-2). Subs: J Bergin for D O'Connor, E Delaney for D Mullen, C Hennessy for J Donnelly, R Butler for A Gaffney, R Coffey for J Cuddihy.

Laois - S Kelly; J Geaney, C Phelan, D Connolly; L O'Connell, D Cahill, L Cleere; S Downey, S Dunphy; S Phelan (0-1), M Phelan, A Bergin (0-1); M Kavanagh (0-8, 5f, 2'65), R Phelan, A Dunphy (0-1). Subs: E Killeen for D Cahill, D Conroy for M Phelan, L Delaney for S Downey, A Mortimer for A Dunphy, R McEvoy for R Phelan.

Referee - A Devine.

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