Kilkenny were made to sweat but held on for a 0-12 to 1-07 win over Antrim in NHL Division 1B at Nowlan Park.
A 69th-minute goal from substitute Joey Scullion almost saw Antrim shock the Cats, but Brian Cody’s men held on to book their place in the knock out stages.
Kilkenny hit ten wides in the first half, but still led by 0-06 to 0-04 early in the second half.
Five successive points from the hurls of Eoin Larkin (0-03), Willie O’Dwyer and Michael Rice pushed the champions clear.
Paddy Richmond crashed a shot off the Kilkenny crossbar on 54 minutes, but the hosts held on.
