Kilkenny made it three Division 1A wins on the trot as they completely outshone their hosts at Wexford Park.
Rock solid in defence and clinical in attack, Kilkenny scored 0-20 from play to beat Wexford by the same margin as they did in last year’s Leinster final.
Michael Rice impressed as the Cats led 0-17 to 0-05 at half-time, with Stephen Nolan hitting three points for Wexford.
But Rory Jacob’s 41st-minute goal proved to be Wexford’s final score of a disappointingly one-sided affair.
Hoping to rediscover the form that saw them beat defending champions Waterford in their league opener, Wexford won the toss and elected to play in a brisk wind.
That decision looked like it might pay off. Under-21 player David Redmond and free-taker Stephen Nolan both found their range in the opening seven minutes as Wexford kept in the hunt at 0-04 to 0-02 down.
Michael Rice banged over a fine point from 40 yards for Kilkenny’s opener and he doubled his tally, in between scores from Richie Power from near the sideline and Eoin Reid, who took a pass from Power before shooting over.
Nolan raised another white flag for Wexford but Kilkenny found an extra gear to gallop into a 0-09 to 0-03 lead. Eddie Brennan, Power, Aidan Fogarty (0-02) and Rice all pointed as Brian Cody’s men moved ominously ahead.
Wexford boss John Meyler reacted by making two quick substitutions – centre forward Eoin Quigley was called ashore with David ‘Doc’ O’Connor introduced, and Ciaran Kelly came on in defence for Diarmuid Lyng.
But with Brian Hogan providing Kilkenny with the ideal presence at centre-back, Kilkenny moved further in front with Power, Rice and Brennan taking their side’s tally to 0-15.
By that stage, all six of Kilkenny’s starting forwards had scored from play. Nolan, Wexford’s only real scoring threat, replied with his third point.
A damning statistic from the game was that by the close of the first half, the Cats had struck 0-16 from play while the Model men had only chalked up two points that were not frees.
The second half was also one to forget for Meyler’s charges as they scored just one goal in the entire 35 minutes and struck nine wides.
Jacob’s major cut the gap to 10 points at 0-18 to 1-05 but it was a veritable procession for Kilkenny thereafter. They took off Rice and brought on TJ Reid to join his brother Eoin on the field.
With Kilkenny close to top form, there was no hope for Wexford and their day was further soured when their right corner back Malachy Travers had to be replaced after being caught by the end of a hurley.
