Kilkenny humiliated Offaly 3-21 to 0-18 in the semi-final of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship in Croke Park this afternoon. Last year's All-Ireland champions dominated throughout the game and now go on to play Wexford in the Leinster final.
In the first half, Kilkenny led by 0-6 to 0-2 by the 15th minute following two points each from Charlie Carter and Eamon Kennedy and one point scores from John Power and Phillip Larkin while Johnny Dooley put Offaly on the scoreboard with two points. Dooley converted his second free before Kilkenny scored four points from Carter, Henry Shefflin, DJ Carey and Power. However Power was taken off after scoring his second point on the half-hour mark after a suspected groin strain.
Offaly failed to score for 16 minutes before Gary Hanniffy scored a free in the 33rd. Kilkenny continued their scoring streak and dominance with another point from Carter and two goals in two minutes for Kilkenny from Henry Shefflin and Eddie Brennan just before the break. Brendan Murphy scored a point for Offaly to leave them trailing 2-11 to 0-5 at the break.
In the second half, Offaly set about trying to eat into the deficit but Kilkenny continued to master the play and scored their third goal of the match in the 61st minute courtesy of John Hoyne. Dooley added a further six points to his tally in the second half but it was to prove futile as Kilkenny scored a further 10 points in the second half including five from Henry Shefflin to eventually win 3-21 to 0-18.
