Kilkenny chalked up their second NHL win in the space of a week as they overcame a plucky Antrim side by 2-21 to 0-11 at Ballycastle.
The Cats held a 1-11 to 0-07 lead at the break as Eddie Brennan netted after only 30 seconds and added three quick points to his tally.
Aidan Fogarty, Eoin McCormack and Richie Power scored 0-02 each in that half, during which Antrim lived off Brian McFall’s frees.
On the resumption, Michael Herron struck the hosts’ first point from play but Kilkenny quickly replied and topped off their trip north with a late Martin Comerford goal.
Antrim got a view of the pace with which the All-Ireland champions operate, even in March, when Brennan, who caused considerable damage out on the flanks, darted through the cover and blasted a rising shot to DD Quinn’s net inside the first-minute.
Points followed from Aidan Fogarty and Comerford before McFall opened the hosts’ account in their first outing at the grounds of the MacUilin club, whose new pitch was opened this afternoon by GAA President Nickey Brennan.
Even without the injured Eoin Larkin and Henry Shefflin, who is getting married next Friday, the Kilkenny side was still on song and the inclusions of Willie O’Dwyer and James Ryall just before the throw-in did the Cats no harm.
Points from Brennan, O’Dwyer and Michael Rice, who lorded it at midfield, opened up a seven-point lead for Brian Cody’s men, who have an intriguing battle with Galway to contend with next weekend.
McFall was the only Antrim player offering the kind of resistance required as Brennan, Fogarty, Power and McCormack each added to their tallies before the interval.
Herron, who finished with 0-03 (all from play) to McFall’s 0-08 haul, sent over Antrim’s first point from play two minutes after the restart but the Saffrons were lacking the quality to mount a serious comeback.
Brennan, who gave marker Kevin Elliott a torrid time, exchanged points with McFall (‘65’). Herron’s second point cut the gap to 1-13 to 0-09 but it was a veritable procession as Derek Lyng, Power (0-02) and Rice all angled over points for the defending league champions.
Comerford’s goal was the icing on the cake for the Cats who made what was a 500-plus miles round trip to Ballycastle.
