Allianz Hurling League Division 1

Kilkenny 0-34 Laois 1-1_8_

By Steven MIller at Laois Hire 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 sevenunanswered 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 0-7.

Laois got the second half off to the best possible start when Martin Phelan raised the game’s first green flag within second 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, coming off for Walter Walsh.

Paddy Purcell fired back for Laois but was completely overshadowed by Enda Rowland’s free from 100 metres out.

Maher added two more points soon after and Ryan Mullaney got his first score of the day after 63 minutes to bring Laois to within ten points.

Kilkenny saw out the win with a couple of frees for Eoin Cody to complete a comprehensive victory.

Next up for Laois is the trip to Belfast to play Antrim in a fixture that is likely to decide who goes into the relegation playoff.

Scorers for Kilkenny: Billy Drennan 0-11 (eight frees), Martin Keoghan and Eoin Cody (two frees) 0-4, John Donnelly 0-3, Billy Ryan, Paddy Mullen and Paddy Deegan 0-2, Tommy Walsh, Cillian Buckley, Eoin Murphy, Alan Murphy, Padraig Walsh, Gearoid Dunne 0-1.

Scorers for Laois: Stephen Maher 0-10 (nine frees),Martin Phelan 1-0, Enda Rowland 0-2 (frees) Fiachra C-Fennell, Tomas Keyes, Aaron Dunphy, James Keyes, Paddy Purcell, Ryan Mullaney 0-1

KILKENNY: E Murphy; S Murphy, C Delaney, P Walsh; T Walsh, R Reid, C Buckley; P Deegan, P Mullen; B Ryan, J Donnelly, EvCody; B Drennan, M Keoghan, G Dunne. Subs: S Murphy for T Walsh (HT), A Murphy for Mullen (46), T Clifford for G Dunne (51), W Walsh for Drennan (56), C Kenny for Donnelly (62)

LAOIS: E Rowland; P Dunne, L O’Connell, D Hartnett; P Delaney, P Purcell, I Shanahan; F C Fennell, J Keyes (Colt-Shanahoe); R Mullaney, S Maher, J Kelly; R King, Martin Phelan, T Keyes. Subs: P Lalor and A Dunphy for Fennell and Dunne (both HT), E Lyons for J Keyes (45), J Duggan for T Keyes (52), D Delaney for King (65),

Referee: T Gleeson (Dublin)