For much of the first half however, the All-Ireland champions did not have things their own way. Barry Lambert, assuming the burden of much of Wexford’s scores in place of the injured Paul Codd, tallied up a 0-03 to 0-01 lead for Wexford after 11 minutes.

The sides were back level at 0-05 apiece six minutes later, as Jimmy Coogan began to fire over the first of his opening half tally of 0-05 (3f).

John Hoyne (0-02), Conor Phelan and wing forward Brennan had all pointed before full forward Martin Comerford stole in for Kilkenny’s first goal on 31 minutes, from a hand pass by Brennan.

Wexford half back Declan Ruth and centre-half forward David O’Connor cut back the visitors’ lead to nine points by the break with two late scores, at 0-08 to 1-14 down.

The home side cut back some of that lead with a Rory Jacob goal on 61 minutes, and an almost instant Lambert point.

But Kilkenny had the last word as Comerford sallied forward to goal for a second time, and wing forward Eddie Brennan found the Wexford net with five minutes remaining to ease the Cats to their 11-point win.

They now head Group Two by two points from Dublin, with one round of games remaining.