Kilkenny made their first competitive visit to Derry a winning one at Ballinascreen yesterday when they defeated the home side with a powerful second-half display.

However, while the 16-point margin looks comfortable, it is an unfair reflection of the game as the home side gave as good as they got for the first hour of the contest.

Indeed, they trailed by just two points at the break after leading at the end of the first quarter, but with the wind at Kilkenny's backs in the second half the visitors scored at will.

Kilkenny opened well and points from Jimmy Coogan frees put them in front, but four unanswered points from Olly Collins, John O'Dwyer, Collins again and Mickey Collins put Derry in front.

However, Kilkenny finished the opening period strongly and scores from Coogan (two), Charlie Carter, Derek Lyng and J P Corcoran put them in command before O'Dwyer reduced the arrears for Derry.

An Aidan Cummins point in the first minute of the second half put Kilkenny three points clear, but Derry levelled when Mickey Collins thumped a low shot past James McGarry in the 38th minute.

From this point on, Kilkenny dominated proceedings and they added points at will to streak clear - Corcoran, Carter, Coogan and Lyng all on target.

DERRY: K Stevenson; E McKeever, C Murray, R Lynch; P Kelly, C McEldowney, M Conway; S McCartney, O Collins (0-3); G Biggs (0-1), K McKeever, D McGrellis; F McEldowney, M Collins (1-1), J O'Dwyer (0-2). Subs: R Kennedy for McGrellis (52 mins); D Doherty for F McEldowney (59 mins); J Young for McCartney (67 mins).

KILKENNY: J McGarry; M Kavanagh, S Dowling, D Grogan; D Lyng (0-3), E Kennedy (0-1), P Barry; A Cummins (0-1), P Mullally; A Geoghan (0-1), H Shefflin, J P Corcoran (0-2); C Carter (0-2), T Drennan, J Groogan (0-8). Subs: J Barron (1-0) for Shefflin (5 mins); J O'Neill for Mullally (51 mins); David Buggy (1- 1) for Cummins (51 mins); S Meally (0-1) for Corcoran (63 mins).

Referee: J McLean (Antrim).