A traditional mainstay of the fixture list returned but the song remained the same as Kilkenny proved too good for Offaly, maintaining their unbeaten run and keeping up the drive for six Leinster hurling titles in a row.
Offaly haven't beaten the Cats in 30 years of trying in the provincial series, and although this one started to go away from them early at UPMC Nowlan Park, they kept up a strong chase to the finish.
With games to come against Dublin (at home) and Wexford (away), the Cats are within touching distance of a place in the final. If they can scrape another decent result they will be there.
For 37-year-old TJ Reid this game marked the beginning of active duty in the championship. He enjoyed a fine afternoon, shooting 2-09. His second goal in the 57th minute wrapped-up the business of the afternoon as it left Offaly trailing by 1-12 to 4-20.
Reid threw over his closing point within a few seconds of that goal before receiving the ovation of the day from the 5,225 crowd as he was called ashore to be replaced by Billy Dreannan.
Bearing in mind the weight of history and the gap to their last victory in this fixture, Offaly could have done with a good start. They didn’t get it. Within 14 minutes of the throw-in they were 2-07 to 0-03 down, and the pressure was really on.
Kilkenny were all business, moving sweetly, using the ball smartly and punishing the opposition at every turn. Their experience made a difference too, as highlighted in the 13th minute when Reid bagged the second goal.
He read the breaking ball beautifully. Reid backed off as two eager defenders contested a high delivery from wing-back David Blanchfield near the edge of the square. When the sliotar broke to the right of goal, Reid swept it up and lashed a low shot to the net. It was a score for a master with experience.
The gap jumped to 2-06 to 0-03. A quick point from the on-fire Billy Ryan, his third, heaped the misery on Offaly, who were full of fight.
Offaly were knocked back early on when Stephen Donnelly placed Martin Keoghan for a Kilkenny goal in the fourth minute. The losers relied to a fair degree on returns from free-taker, Brian Duignan, who slotted over six points during this half.
By half-time the Cats were 2-16 to 0-11 clear, a position boosted by a closing hat-trick of points from John Donnelly (2) and Cian Kenny.
The opening score of the second half was another goal from Kilkenny. This one came from sub Adrian Mullen, who claimed a high clearance from Tommy Walsh before sprinting through the static Faithful defence. Within a minute Offaly had the ball in the net, a smashing effort from Oisin Kelly after driving his way through the home defence.
The game fell apart for a while after that, and when Reid grabbed goal number four the contest was reduced to a mere figures keeping exercise.
Kilkenny: E. Murphy; M. Butler, H. Lawlor, T. Walsh; D. Blanchfield, M. Carey, P. Deegan; C. Kenny (0-03, 2f), J. Molloy; H. Shine (0-01), J. Donnelly (0-04), B. Ryan (0-04); S. Donnelly (0-03), M. Keoghan (1-00), T.J. Reid (2-09, 0-07 frees).
Subs: A. Mullen (1-00) for Shine (32); K. Doyle for Blanchfield (48); L. Hogan for S. Donnelly (50); B. Drennan for T.J. Reid (58); F. Mackessy (0-01) for Keoghan (60).
Offaly: M. Troy; B. Conneely, C. Burke, J. Mahon; R. Ravenhill, D. Shirley (0-02), J. Sampson; C. King, C. Spain; K. Sampson, D. Bourke (0-02), O. Kelly (2-01); D. Ravenhill, C. Mitchell (0-03), B. Duignan (0-08, frees).
Subs: E. Burke for D. Ravenhill (42); D. Nally for R. Ravenhill (47); S. Bourke for Sampson (47); P. Cantwell for B. Connelly (57); B. Kavanagh for J. Mahon (61).
Referee: C. McDonald (Antrim).
