St. Kieran's 4-17 Birr CC 0-9:Reigning champions St Kieran's Kilkenny turned up the heat in the second half at Park Ratheneiska on Saturday afternoon after an evenly contested opening half.

Birr led on a few occasions in the opening half due to points by Seán Dunne and Kevin Bergin, but three minutes before the break Chris Bolger edged the champions in front. Then in injury time Liam Blanchfield hammered a goal home, leaving the half time score 1-8 to 0-7. That goal lit the torch for a St Kieran’s blitz and in the second half goals by Paddy Mullins, Michael Kenny and Chris Bolger completed the rout.

ST KIERAN’S, KILKENNY: G English; G Morrissey, J Tyrell, C Breen; M O’Neill, O Walsh, L Tennyson; C Bolger (1-3), L Blanchfield (1-0); V Teehan (0-1), E Gough (0-4), P Mullins (1-2); S Rafter (0-3), S Farrell, M Kenny (1-4). Subs: J Deacy for C Breen (40 mins), P Hickey for V Teehan (48 mins), P White for S Rafter, G Kennedy for P Mullins (both 50 mins). BIRR COMMUNITY COLLEGE: B Hogan; S Fenane, C Taylor, N Bergin; B Dooley, E Nolan. B Loughnanne; P Guinan, S Dunne (0-2); J Carroll (0-1), C Doughan (0-3), C Freeman; K Bergin (0-2), J Regan, S Ryan (0-1). Subs: J Hardiman for J Regan (25 mins) E Parlon for S Fenane, P Hogan for J Carroll (both 45 mins).