Exhibition hurling from ruthless Cats
Kilkenny 6-28 Offaly 0-15
The Cats were in cruise control at Croke Park today - wrapping up a stunning 31-point Leinster SHC semi-final win over Offaly, with star forward Henry Shefflin scoring an impressive 2-11.
A one-sided game, watched by an attendance of just over 23,000, saw Shefflin and company in devastating form.
Brian Cody's men sent out a definite warning to would-be All-Ireland challengers - they want that provincial crown and they meant business this afternoon, especially in attack.
By the tenth minute, Cody's men were already 2-04 to 0-04 in front and coasting.
Martin Comerford and Shefflin, set up by a Comerford pass, both goaled in a lightning start.
Damien Murray and Brian Carroll had sandwiched in points for the Faithfuls but Offaly heads certainly dropped when Richie Power broke through to net Kilkenny's third goal on 16 minutes.
With the half-back and midfield battle seemingly sewn up, the Cats burst clear again for a 4-12 to 0-11 interval lead.
Young Irelands legend DJ Carey had added a fourth goal from a pinpoint Shefflin dink across the middle of Offaly's rearguard.
John McIntyre's Offaly had to wait until the 58th minute to notch their first point of a disappointing second half - and that came from a substitute, Cathal Parlon.
Kilkenny had already tagged on 1-11 to their half-time tally by that stage with Shefflin banging home his second goal with ease.
Credit to Offaly, they had enough pride to raise further white flags from Gary Hanniffy and Brian Carroll (0-02), yet Kilkenny were merciless.
Substitute Eoin McCormack slalomed through late on to strike home the Cats' sixth goal and set up a revenge-filled Leinster final tilt against holders Wexford on July 3.
Scorers:
Kilkenny: H Shefflin 2-11 (0-05f), M Comerford 1-03, T Walsh 0-05, DJ Carey 1-02, E McCormack 1-00, R Power, D Lyng 0-2 each, R Mullally, B Barry (1 '65'), C Phelan 0-01 each.
Offaly: D Murray 0-08 (0-07f), Carroll 0-03 (0-01f), R Hanniffy 0-02, C Parlon, G Hanniffy 0-01 each.
