A seriously under-strength Kilkenny team still scored a facile victory over Laois in Portlaoise yesterday.

Kilkenny suffered a severe blow shortly before the match when they lost attackers John Power, Brian McEvoy and Kevin Power to flu, but with only one player from the attack that featured in the defeat of Cork last weekend, they still managed to dish out a severe hammering to a disappointing home side.

Laois mounted what could best be described as reasonable opposition for about 20 minutes. Although playing against the wind, Kilkenny took the lead in the 13th minute, when Ken O'Shea goaled (1-1 to 0-2) and they led all the way home, never seriously looking as though there was any chance of them losing against much weaker opposition.

At half-time Laois trailed by 0-6 to 1-7. Things looked bad for them at that stage, particularly as five of their scores came from full-forward James Young, who was the only one in attack to make any impression.

Kilkenny were also impressive in the second half. They started after the break with quick points from Niall Moloney and Henry Shefflin. Laois struggled after that and when they were hit for 2-3 during the closing five minutes, they were buried virtually without trace.

Kilkenny: J McGarry; J Butler, S Meally, N Hickey; M Kavanagh (0-1), P Barry, R Moore; A Comerford (0-2), P Mullally; J P Corcoran (0-2), S Grehan (1-3), H Shefflin (0-10); K O'Shea (2-0), J Phelan (0-1), N Moloney (0-1). Subs: C Carter for Phelan (47 mins), J O'Neill for Kavanagh (57 mins), E Kennedy for Barry (60 mins), A Cummins for Moore (60 mins).

Laois: J Lyons; P J Peacock, S Dooley, D Dowling; E Browne, P Mahon, L McGrath; R Delaney, D Conroy; J Phelan, T Fennelly, C Cuddy (0-2); B McEvoy, J Young (0-6), A Coffey (0-1). Subs: D Russell for R Delaney (36 mins), S Conroy for McEvoy (42 mins), A Berrigan for McGrath (49 mins), R Jones for Coffey (51 mins).

Referee: J McDonnell (Tipperary).