Walsh Cup: Two goals inside the first five minutes sent Kilkenny on the way to a comfortable semi-final victory at St Brendan's Park, Birr, yesterday.
Kilkenny had opened up a 2-3 to no-score lead after just six minutes and an under-strength Offaly team were left with a mountain to climb.
To their credit they battled away and the gap was still nine points approaching the midway point in the second half but Kilkenny finished with a flourish to book their place in the final against Wexford.
Kilkenny fielded a fairly strong side and they looked sharp, giving notice that they will be going all out to regain their lost titles this year.
They got off to a great start when Henry Shefflin took a pass from Jimmy Coogan and shot to the net after just 90 seconds.
Three minutes later the same player sent in a free from 45 metres which eluded everyone and ended up in the Offaly net.
Offaly didn't get off the mark until the 18th minute by which time Kilkenny had 2-5 on the board. The sides traded points between that and the interval when Kilkenny led by 2-9 to 0-5.
Offaly looked lively at the start of the second half but the goal they needed just wouldn't come. The sides continued to exchange points but Kilkenny still had the cushion of a big lead.
In the final 10 minutes Kilkenny hit five points without reply to underline their superiority.
Seventeen points divided the sides at Wexford Park on Saturday afternoon as Wexford swept Antrim aside to book their Walsh Cup final place after a 5-19 to 1-14 victory.
Dessie Mythen scored two goals and Paul Carley a third to give Wexford a 3-12 to 0-7 lead by the half-time break.
In the second half Nigel Higgins and Barry Lambert struck for goals to really kill off Antrim, who got a late consolation goal through substitute Karl McKeegan.
SCORERS
Kilkenny: H Shefflin (2-8), J Hoyne (0-3), D Lyng (0-2), E Brennan (0-2), R Power (0-2), JJ Delaney (0-1), M Comerford (0-1), J Fitzpatrick (0-1). Offaly: D Murray (0-3), M Cordial (0-2), B Carroll (0-2), C Cassidy (0-1), G Oakley (0-1), A Hanrahan (0-1),
Wexford: D Mythen (2-3), P Carley (1-4), B Lambert (1-3, two frees, one 65), N Higgins (1-2), M Jacob (0-2, one 65); W Doran (0-2), D Lyng (0-1), E Quigley (0-1). M Jordan (0-1). Antrim: K McKeegan (1-2 frees), P Richmond (0-6), K Stewart (0-3), J Campbell (0-1), M Herron (0-1), S Óg McFaddan 0-1).
KEHOE CUP: Athlone IT will play Carlow in the Kehoe Cup final. In yesterday's semi-finals, the midland college had a 1-11 to 0-10 victory over Wicklow in Arklow, Kevin Coen's goal clinching victory, while Carlow defeated DIT by 1-12 to 0-14 at Dr Cullen Park.
