It is a sign of the times that a big Offaly hurling win over Kerry is a surprise but that is very much the way it was in Bord na Mona O'Connor Park, Tullamore.
A very impressive home side waltzed to a runaway 21-point win and set down a serious marker about their ambitions for the coming season.
Now in hurling's third tier, the Christy Ring Cup, Offaly were up against a Joe McDonagh Cup side here in Kerry.
The midlanders have grown accustomed to losing to Kerry in recent years but they turned the tables spectacularly here.
It is an important stepping stone by Michael Fennelly's charges.
The Kilkenny legend is in his second year in charge of the Faithful County but they look to be progressing nicely.
This facile win followed on from an easy one over Meath the previous Sunday and Offaly are now very much in the promotion mix.
Kerry held their own in the first quarter and Offaly led by 0-06 to 0-05 at the water break.
They had also been a point to the good against Meath at the water break last week and again they took off in the second quarter here.
Kerry levelled it up after resumption but Offaly went on the rampage, outscoring them by 2-10 to 0-01.
A goal from the excellent Liam Langton ignited them. Jason Sampson got a second goal as Offaly led by 2-16 to 0-07 at half time.
The hosts continued to go for the jugular at the start of the second half.
The in-form Brian Duignan got two points and they led by 2-22 to 0-11 at the second-half water break, making the closing quarter a mere formality.
Offaly: Conor Clancy; Jordan Quinn, Ciarán Burke, David King; Brian Watkins, Ben Conneely, Killian Sampson (0-1); Leon Fox (0-1) , Ross Ravenhill; Shane Kinsella (0-1), Liam Langton (1-6), Brian Duignan (0-5); Oisín Kelly (0-2), Adrian Hynes, Eoghan Cahill (0-8, 3F, 1 "65").
Subs: Jason Sampson for Adrian Hynes (34), Padraic Guinan (0-1) for Brian Watkins (41). John Murphy (0-2) for Shane Kinsella (43), David Nally (0-1) for Leon Fox. (50), Shane Dooley for Eoghan Cahill (54), Aidan Treacy for Ben Conneely (54).
Kerry: John B O'Halloran ; John Buckley, Evan Murphy, Niall O'Mahoney; Jason Diggins (0-1), Barry O’Mahoney, Fionan Mackessy; Shane Nolan (0-4, 3f, 1 "65"), Paudie O’Connor; Padraig Boyle (0-4), Daniel Collins, Michael Leane (0-1); Colin Walsh (0-1), Mikey Boyle, Maurice O’Connor.
Subs: Erin Leen (0-1) for John Buckley (38), Donal Hunt for Colin Walsh (44), Fionan O’Sullivan (0-1) for Michael Leane (44), Daniel Casey for Maurice O’Connor. Billy Lyons for Jason Diggins (54), Coleman Savage for Niall O’Mahoney (68).
Referee: Nathan Wall (Cork).
Elsewhere in Division 2A, Down edged Carlow on a scoreline of 3-20 to 3-18 in Ballycran.
Conor Woods (2) and Paul Sheehan scored the hosts' goals as they claimed a first win of the campaign following last week’s loss to Kerry.
In Division 3A, Armagh beat Longford 2-21 to 0-16 at the Athletic Grounds with the majors coming from Stephen Keenan and Danny Magee
Tyrone were 1-25 to 2-13 victors over Monaghan at Healy Park with Damien Casey’s late penalty goal sealing the win for the hosts.
Meanwhile, Cavan and Fermanagh played out a 1-19 to 2-16 Division 3B draw at Kingspan Breffni Park, while Louth struck two late points to beat Leitrim 1-16 to 2-11 in Carrick-on-Shannon.
