Leinster MHC Semi-finals: Kilkenny began the defence of their All-Ireland minor hurling title with a comfortable Leinster semi-final win over Dublin at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise last night.

Kilkenny made a blistering start, hitting two goals in the opening 10 minutes. Midfielder Richie Power finished a mazy solo to the net for the first score of the game, before Alan Healy raised the second green flag, flicking a loose ball past Dublin goalkeeper Alan Nolan in the ninth minute.

Dublin kept pressing, but were always second best to a classy Kilkenny, who ended the half with a third goal, from Austin Murphy, to take a 3-2 to 0-5 lead.

The second half saw Kilkenny reinforce their grip on the game, led by some excellent free-taking from Power.

Eoin Guinan had the final say, knocking in a goal to secure his side's place in the Leinster final.

KILKENNY: C Grant; S Cadigan, J Tennyson, J Dalton; P O'Donovan, D Cody, D Prendergast; R Power (1-4), M Fennelly; J Fitzpatrick, A Murphy (1-4), R Wall; A Healy (1-1), D McCormack (0-2), E Guinan (1-1). Subs: M Nolan for Wall; N Prendergast for Dalton; R Maher for Donovan; D Fogarty for Fennelly; E O'Donoghue for Healy.

DUBLIN: A Nolan; D O'Reilly, S O'Sullivan (0-1), P Bergin; M Griffin (0-1), W Lowry, G O'Meara; R Higgins (0-1), G Morris; E Moran, D Burne, I Fleming (0-2); A McCrabbe (0-4, fs), B Kennedy (0-1), P Carton (0-1). Subs: C Billings for Byrne; C Brugha for Higgins; D Walsh for Moran; R Kelly for Brugha.

Referee: S Whelan (Wexford).