Goals from TJ Reid and James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick drove them to a 2-09 to 0-06 half-time lead, with Richie Hogan hitting 0-05.

Wexford, who remain winless after three games, improved after the break with Jim Berry, Stephen Banville and substitutes PJ Nolan and Eoin Quigley picking off points.

But the Cats were too strong and returning goalkeeper PJ Ryan looked sharp whilst keeping a clean sheet.

Ryan was back for his first appearance since last September's All-Ireland final loss to Tipperary, joining nine fellow starters from that game.

Noel Hickey, Paul Murphy and John Dalton were added to the defence by manager Brian Cody, with TJ Reid, Eoin Larkin and Fitzpatrick joining the forwards.

Colm Bonnar also made changes to the Wexford team that lost to Waterford last time out. Noel Carton got the nod in goal, Ciaran Kenny replaced the injured Keith Rossiter at corner back and Michael Jacob partnered his Oulart-the-Ballagh club-mate David Redmond at midfield.

The visitors also realigned their attack with Eanna Martin replacing Rory Jacob, Garrett Sinnott repositioned to full-forward and Harry Kehoe selected at centre-forward.

The Wexford rearguard came under early pressure at Nowlan Park, but corner back Paul Roche was able to clear the danger after Kilkenny's Eddie Brennan had raided in from the right.

Even still, the home supporters did not have long to wait for a succession of scores. Hogan pointed two frees and the effective Colin Fennelly scored from play, with the Wexford net bulged in the ninth minute. Former Hurler of the Year Larkin played in Reid for a crisp shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Free-taker Jim Berry got Wexford up and running on the scoreboard and Jacob and Banville also registered points. But Kilkenny were playing well within themselves and grabbed a fortunate second goal when Wexford goalkeeper Carton pulled on the ball and Fitzpatrick got his hurl to it and directed it into the net.

Carton's Kilkenny counterpart, Ryan, came under threat too, but he was able to block a close-in free from Berry. Ryan also denied Berry in the second period during which Wexford managed to outscore the hosts by 0-11 to 0-07. Fitzpatrick and Berry traded early points but Cody's charges still had a healthy 2-12 to 0-10 lead by the 51-minute mark.

Full-back Matthew O'Hanlon, a recent debutant, and Lar Prendergast at wing back gave the Kilkenny forwards precious little space and substitutes Nolan and Quigley had an influence in attack.

But Kilkenny never looked like being overhauled and they eased up in the end with Brennan and Reid, who took over the free-taking duties after Hogan's departure, pointing them to league victory number three.