Black Cats brush aside Laois

Kilkenny 1-21 Laois 1-10

Mark Bergin bagged 10 points for Kilkenny as the reigning Bord Gais Under-21 All-Ireland hurling champions claimed a 11-point win over Laois in tonight's Leinster U-21 quarter-final at Nowlan Park.

A 44th-minute Colin Fennelly goal opened up a 1-16 to 0-8 advantage for the Cats and although Laois staged a determined final quarter, the hosts stood firm.

The teams were evenly matched in the opening ten minutes with Bergin and Mark Kelly blazing an early trail for the Cats who led by 0-5 to

0-3 at that stage.

However, Laois were to only score two more points before the interval with their top-scorer Willie Hyland keeping them in touch, as the Cats led by 0-14 to 0-5 at the break.

A wind-assisted Laois showed more urgency in the second half but it was Kilkenny who settled quickest as midfielder James Dowling slotted over his second point for the hosts.

Both sides were eager to raise a green flag on the restart with goal chances falling to both sides in the third quarter.

Bergin broke through for goal opportunities in both the 37th and 46th minutes but Laois goalkeeper Patrick Carroll was equal to both shots.

Laois rallied late on with Hyland getting a consolation goal when he rifled a 30-metre free to the back of the Kilkenny net in the 57th minute.

However Michael Walsh's charges had plenty in reserve with a late brace of points from Bergin and substitute Nicky Cleere copperfastening their place in the semi-finals.

KILKENNY: C McGrath; P Murphy (0-1, 0-1f), A Kearns, C Fogarty; L Ryan, D Langton, M Walsh; J Dowling (0-2), JJ Farrell; C Fennelly (1-0), M Kelly (0-4), L Ryan; M Bergin (0-10, 0-9f), J Mulhall (0-2), J Nolan (0-1).

Subs used: P McCarthy for J Nolan (47 mins), S Maher for Ryan (54), N Cleere (0-1) for Kelly (57), P Nolan for Kearns (60).

LAOIS: P Carroll; B Smith, D Maher, J Prior; B Galvin (0-1), M Whelan (0-1), B Stapleton; A Collier, T Burke; C Murray, J O'Loughlin (0-2), W Hyland (1-6, 0-5f); G Lanham, G Reddin, D Peacock.

Subs used: J Gaughan for Collier (8 mins), D O'Mahoney for Gaughan (38), J Phelan for Lanham (42), T Delaney for Reddin (48), P Kelly for Peacock (62).

Referee: David Hughes (Carlow)