Kilkenny stroll to huge win over Laois in Under 19 hurling league

Kilkenny scored five second goals as they proved much too classy for Laois in the Under-19 Development League Semi-Final in UPMC Nowlan Park on Good Friday.

Carrickshock’s Adam Franks took the headlines with a well taken hat-trick but their was attacking prowess all over the field with Cian Donnelly and Robbie Doherty also finding the net.

Kilkenny had 13 scorers in total as they really turned on the style in the second period with a strong enough wind at their backs.

The first half was a totally different affair with Laois remaining competitive as Tom Og Phelan and Pete Culleton knocked over the frees but once the Cats went through the gears, there was only going to be one winner.

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Bill Beckett's side came into the last four clash on the back of earlier wins over Wexford and Dublin and they made the brighter start with Thomas Langton and Conor Farrell pointing inside the first three minutes.

Laois then worked their way into the game through scores by Pete Culleton and Tom Og Phelan and the game remained nip and tuck with nothing seperating the teams at the halfway mark of the first half.

Kilkenny added on further points from the likes of Adam Franks, PJ Mackey, Ben McEvoy, and Conor McEvoy but the Midlanders continued to keep tabs with the home side.

A Daniel Jones score then gave Laois the lead for the one and only time though it proved to be only brief joy with Kilkenny finishing the half on top.

Cian Donnelly, Conor Holohan and Conor Farrell all scored in succession as the Cats took a 0-12 to 0-8 lead into the break despite playing against the elements.

Kilkenny threatened to force a goal through diffferent periods of the first half but it’s not something that they had much of an issue with in the secondf half as within two minutes of the resumption, Mooncoin’s Robbie Doherty powered forward before blasting a shot to the net past Ryan O’Connor.

That opened up a seven point gap between the teams and it was very much plain sailing for Kilkenny from that stage on as quickfire scores from Conor McEvoy, Adam Franks and Conor Holohan all but ended the game as a contest.

Laois replied with a Paddy Farrell point but remarkably it proved to be the only score for the visitors in the second half.

Tom Og Phelan had a couple of 21-yard frees saved and blocked near the goaline and it proved to be the last bit of goalmouth action for the O’Moore County.

Adam Franks rattled in Kilkenny’s second goal just before Laois got their final point andafterwards it was non stop attack by the Cats as they quickly scored 3-9 without reply inside the final quarter.

Cian Donnelly nabbed a goal either side of two Adam Franks efforts as Kilkenny looked like scoring everytime they attacked the O’Loughlin’s end of Nowlan Park.

The subs also had an impact with Kealan Barcoe, Jamie Tallon, Roman Connolly and Robert McEvoy all pointing off the bench as Kilkenny ran out the most emphatic winners.

The Cats will now go on to face Dublin in the league final this Thursday evening for a 6.30pm start in Nowlan Park.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny: Adam Franks (3-2); Cian Donnelly (1-2); Conor McEvoy (0-4, 2fs); Robbie Doherty (1-0); Conor Holohan, Conor Farrell (0-3 each); Thomas Langton, Ben McEvoy, PJ Mackey (0-2 each); Kealan Barcoe, Jamie Tallon, Roman Connolly, Robert McEvoy (0-1 each)

Laois: Tom Og Phelan (0-4, 3fs); Pete Culleton (0-3, 3fs); Daniel Jones, Paddy Farrell (0-1 each)

Kilkenny: Daniel McCormack (O'Loughlin Gaels); Matthew Murphy (Carrickshock), Pierce Costelloe (Dunnamaggin), Darragh Hickey (Emeralds); Rian McDonald (Kilmacow), Luke Lawlor (Clara), PJ Mackey (Rower Inistioge); Robbie Doherty (Mooncoin), Ben McEvoy (Graigue Ballycallan); Conor Farrell (Carrickshock), Thomas Langton (Young Irelands), Conor McEvoy (James Stephens); Adam Franks (Carrickshock), Conor Holohan (O'Loughlin Gaels), Cian Donnelly (St Lachtain's).

Subs: Robert McEvoy (Lisdowney) for Holohan, 41 mins; Jamie Tallon (Dunnamaggin) for Doherty, 45 mins; Aidan Carroll (Mooncoin) for Langton, 45 mins; Ned Spellman (Rower Inistioge) for Farrell, 50 mins; Zak O’Halloran (John Lockes) for McDonald, 55 mins; Callum Lawlor (Emeralds) for Donnelly, 55 mins; Bobby Brennan (Erin’s Own) for Costelloe, 55 mins; Roman Connolly (Thomastown) for Doherty, 60 mins; Kealan Barcoe (Young Irelands) for B.McEvoy, 60 mins.

Laois: Ryan O’Connor; Aaron Mahon, Conor Ryan, Eoin Holland; Frank McGovern, Paddy Farrell; Davey Delaney; Ben Meade, Scott Kelly; Pete Culleton, Oisin Moore, Tom Og Phelan; Eoin Bracken, Ashton Keenan, Daniel Jones.

Subs: Jamie Phelan for Kelly, h-t; Ciaran Lyons for Moore, h-t; Dylan Payne for O’Connor, 45 mins.

Referee: Brian Fox (Kilkenny)