Kilkenny 6-21
Laois 0-9
Steven Miller reports from O’Moore Park
ADRIAN MULLEN HELPED himself to 1-8 as Kilkenny booked their place in the Leinster minor hurling final thanks to a massive 30-point win over Laois in O’Moore Park.
The Ballyhale Shamrocks man got his goal after just three minutes and despite playing against a strong wind, Kilkenny led their hosts by 1-8 to 0-6 at half time.
Laois had started well with points from Oisin Bennett, James Keyes and Daniel Comerford but they struggled to contain the visitors and were always going to be up against it in the second half, such was the strength of the breeze.
And their cause wasn’t made any easier when Liam Delaney got his marching orders less than a minute after the restart.
John Dowd got Kilkenny’s second goal midway through the half when his shot for a point dropped into the back of the net and Sean Ryan pounced for their third moments later when he reacted quickest to the ball coming back off the post.
Laois could only manage three points in the second half and Kilkenny added three further goals in the final ten minutes – from Jesse Roberts, Niall Brassil and sub Daithi Barron.
Scorers for Kilkenny: Adrian Mullen 1-8 (0-3 frees), Niall Brassil 1-3, Jessie Roberts 1-2, John Dowd 1-2, Sean Ryan 1-2, Daithi Barron 1-1, Jim Ryan 0-2, Eoin O’Shea 0-1;
Scorers for Laois: Oisin Bennett 0-6 (all frees), Daniel Comerford, James Keyes and Ciaran Comerford 0-1 each
Laois
1. Cathal Dunne (Clough-Ballacolla)
2. Daniel Breen (Camross)
3. John Maher (Rosenallis)
4. Diarmuid Conway (Clough-Ballacolla)
5. Ryan Murphy (Galmoy)
6. Padraig Delaney (The Harps)
7. Eoin O’Connor (Portlaoise)
8. PJ Daly (Clonad)
9. Liam Senior (Clonaslee-St Manman’s)
10. Ciaran Comerford (The Harps)
11. Liam Delaney (Camross)
12. Daniel Comerford (The Harps)
13. James Keyes (Colt)
14. Oisin Bennett (Camross)
15. Joe Phelan (Castletown)
Subs for Laois
Joe McCormack (Castletown) for Murphy (24 mins)
Padraig Dunne (The Harps) for D Comerford (47 mins)
Odhran Phelan (Camross) for Daly (48 mins)
Brandon McGinley (Rathdowney-Errill) for J Phelan (51 mins)
Kilkenny
1. Dean Mason (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
2. Tommy Ronan (Graigue-Ballycallan)
3. Michael Carey (Young Irelands)
4. Darragh Walsh (Piltown)
5. James Brennan (Erins Own)
6. Conor Flynn (Graigue-Ballycallan)
7. Jordan Molloy (O’Loughlin Gaels)
8. Eoin O’Shea (O’Loughlin Gaels)
9. Niall Brassil (James Stephens)
10. Jesse Roberts (Graigue-Ballycallan)
11. John Dowd (Erins Own)
12. Jim Ryan (Rower-Inistiogue)
13. Eoin Cody (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
14. Adrian Mullen (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
15. Sean Ryan (Graigue-Ballycallan)
Subs for Kilkenny:
Jack Kelly (Barrow Rangers) for Cody (47 mins)
Daithi Brennan (Thomastown) for S Ryan (48 mins)
Brian Staunton (Thomastown) for Flynn (55 mins)
Niall Brennan (Lisdowney) for J Ryan (55 mins)
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