Kilkenny 1-18 Laois 0-8
KILKENNY’S MINORS CLINCHED their first Leinster hurling title since 2010 with an 11-point win over Laois in Croke Park.
For Laois, there was to be no repeat of their last provincial success when they beat the Cats 49 years ago.
Corner-forward Alan Murphy was the difference between the sides, scoring 0-10 of Kilkenny’s total and punishing Laois’s indiscipline with six pointed frees.
The Glenmore youngster, younger brother of senior goalkeeper Eoin, scored 0-7 in the first half to help Kilkenny into a nine-point lead at the break.
Murphy was also at the heart of the game’s only goal, scored by full-forward Michael Kenny in the fourth minute.
After Liam Blanchfield and Aidan Corby traded scores in the opening minutes, it was Kilkenny who hit the front. Niall Mullins’ crossfield ball was collected by Murphy and he played in Kenny who drilled it low past Laois goalkeeper Enda Rowland.
Kilkenny pressed on from there and when Kevin Kenny pointed from play in the 14th minute, they led by 1-5 to 0-1.
Laois’ determination was not reflected on the scoreboard but they got their reward with three straight points to cut the deficit to four.
Both sides had goal chances as half-time approached, drawing saves from Rowland and Darren Brennan in the Kilkenny goal, but Murphy kept Laois at arm’s length with a string of pointed frees.
The game fizzled out after the restart though Laois were given a glimmer of hope when Murphy uncharacteristically dropped a free short and then wing-forward Liam Blanchfield squandered a chance of his own from play.
The afternoon could have been even worse for Laois had Daniel O’Connor scored when put through on goal with 15 minutes to play but he was denied by some fine scrambling defence, though Murphy’s sharp shooting ensured that Kilkenny came away with a point from the exchange.
By the time wing-back James Maher strode up the centre of the field and boomed over a long-range point, the game and a 54th Leinster title were already Kilkenny’s.
Scorers for Kilkenny: Murphy 0-10 (6f, 2 65’), M Kenny 1-0, Blanchfield, Ryan both 0-2, Maher, Teehan, Scanlon, K Kenny all 0-1.
Scorers for Laois: Corby, McEvoy (2 65′) both 0-2, Campion, Collier, Cripps (1f), Kavanagh (1f) all 0-1.
Kilkenny: Darren Brennan; James Tyrrell (c), Evan Cody, Ciaran Wallace; James Maher, Jason Stanley, Darragh Joyce; Niall Mullins, Ciaran Ryan; Liam Blanchfield, Garry Kelly, Kevin Kenny; Daniel O’Connor, Michael Kenny, Alan Murphy.Substitutions: Vinny Teehan for Kelly (9), John Walsh for M Kenny (ht), Eoin Kenny for K Kenny (45), Luke Scanlon for Mullins (54), Conor Delaney for Ryan (58).
Laois: Enda Rowland; Gavin Dunne, Ryan Mullaney, Evan Cuddy; Dwane Palmer, Ciaran McEvoy, Ronan Delahunty; Liam O’Connell, Colm Stapleton; John Lennon, Leigh Bergin, Aidan Corby; Darragh Cripps, Joe Campion (c), Stephen Bergin.Substitutions: Ciaran Collier for Cripps (39), Mark Kavanagh for L Bergin (39), Kevin Bergin for S Bergin (49), Ronan Broderick for Lennon (51), Jack Delaney for Stapleton (58).
Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow)
