Laois hurlers, playing their third competitive game in as many weeks, suffered similar fate as they had in the previous two when they were no match for the reigning Munster champions Cork at O'Moore Park yesterday. The home side were favoured by the breeze in the opening half and for a while looked as if they would match their more illustrious opponents.

However, the home side were completely dependent on full-forward, David Cuddy, for their scores. Cork eventually settled and points by Timmy McCarthy, Mike Morrissey, Joe Deane and Ben O'Connor saw them lead 0-6 to 0-5 at half time.

Laois drove ten bad wides in that opening half and this was to cost them dearly. Whatever Cork manager, Tom Cashman, said to his charges at half time obviously had the desired effect. Within five minutes of the change-over, they had stretched their lead 2-7 to 0-5, the goals coming from Kevin Murray and Joe Deane. Once ahead, the rebels never looked back and added a succession of points from Joe Deane, Ben O'Connor, Pat Mulcahy and Timmy McCarthy.

With 15 minutes remaining, Cork led 2-12 to 0-6. Laois' only score in the third quarter came from Colm Cleere. Then, in the space of two minutes, Cork added two further goals Seanie McGrath and Joe Deane, to give the scoreboard a one-sided look.

CORK: D O'Cusack; M Prendergast, D O'Sullivan, J Brown; W Sherlock, P Mulcahy (0- 1), S Og O hAilpin; D Barrett, B O'Connor (0- 4); T McCarthy (0-2), M Morrissey (0-2), N Ronan; S McGrath (1-2), K Murray (1-2), J Deane (2-4). Subs: M O'Connell for Barrett; G O'Connor (0-1) for O'Sullivan; W Toomey for Deane; E Fitzgerald for McGrath; P Ryan for Sherlock.

LAOIS: J Lyons; J O'Sullivan, S Dooley, D Killeen; P Mahon, P Cuddy, R Delaney; C Cuddy, J Phelan; R Jones, J O'Shea (0-1), D Conroy; C Cleere (0-1), D Cuddy (0-6), F O'Sullivan. Subs: E Meagher for Jones; A Coffey for Cleere; S Dwyer for Conroy; C Coonan for J O'Shea.

Referee: J McDonald (Tipperary).