Goals from Henry Shefflin and substitute Eddie Brennan on 35 and 37 minutes helped Kilkenny to a rather flattering 2-11 to 0-5 interval lead having soaked up intense Offaly pressure during the opening 15 minutes.

Offaly increased the tempo of their game on the resumption with two Rory Hanniffy points giving brief hopes of a recovery.

Not even the point-taking of Johnny Dooley who finished the game with a personal tally of eight points could save Offaly as Kilkenny finished with a flurry of scores.

These included a 60th minute goal from substitute Eddie Brennan to dismiss a gallant Offaly challenge.