Kilkenny have too much for Laois at O'Moore Park

Billy Drennan helped himself to 11 points as Kilkenny were comfortable winners over Laois in O'Moore Park.

The result sees Derek Lyng’s side get back to winning ways following their big loss to Tipperary the last day out while Laois are rooted to the bottom of the table ahead of a relegation showdown against Antrim in two weeks time.

Drennan opened the scoring for the visitors before Eoin Cody added another, both inside the first minute.

John Donnelly added another before Stephen Maher got Laois on the board with a free from 50 metres out on the left sideline.

Drennan replied with a free of his own but Laois had the next two scores through Fiachra Fennell and a 65 from Maher. Donnelly and Billy Ryan hit back for The Cats before Tomás Keys scored for Laois.

But the visitors hit their stride after quarter of an hour, scoring seven unanswered points in ten minutes, including three frees from Drennan.

James Keyes did eventually grab one back for Laois in the 25th minute before Drennan and Maher traded frees.

Kilkenny came right back at Laois though, scoring seven more points before half time, Eoin Murphy with the pick of the bunch, scoring from well inside his own half.

There was another Maher free in amongst them as Laois trailed at the break by 0-21 to 0-07.

Laois got the second half off to the best possible start when Martin Phelan raised the game’s first green flag within seconds of the whistle.

Aaron Dunphy added a point before Kilkenny tagged on three more to their tally.

Stephen Maher got the next couple of scores but Kilkenny came back with two of their own.

A pair of Laois frees followed from Maher and a long-range effort from Rowland before Drennan helped himself to three quick frees. This was his last action of the game,