Eoin Cody led the way with a final tally of 10 points as Kilkenny saw off a gallant Offaly in the opening round of the Allianz Hurling League in UPMC Nowlan Park earlier this afternoon.
The Division 1A fixture was maybe a little closer than anticipated but Kilkenny's class eventually shone through as they won out by four points in the end.
Offaly pushed the Cats throughout both halves but apart from the first two points of the game, they were unable to keep their noses in front for long as Derek Lyng’s home team held them off.
The Cats will be happy with the victory but the 13 wides show that there is still a bit of rustiness among the Leinster champions who will likely have more bodies back into the fold when they return after a bye in a fortnight’s time.
For Offaly, there were positive signs but with All-Ireland champions Tipperary next up, the challenges don’t get any easier in the top tier.
It was a slow start to the contest which commenced in tough underfoot conditions, Kilkenny registering five wides in the opening 10 minutes alone.
Dan Ravenhill and Liam Watkins took advantage of the hosts' inefficiecy when they landed the first two points of the game.
Kilkenny ultimately found their flow with centre-forward Cody landing four points on the spin with two from play and two from placed balls.
A pair of Adam Screeney frees and a Liam Watkins effort from play then levelled matters before the Cats took control at the latter end of the opening half.
Jordan Molloy, Gearoid Dunne and Mossy Keoghan all found the target as the Noresiders went into the break with a 0-9 to 0-6 advantage.
The contest gradually improved upon the resumption with Cody and Cathal Beirne initially extending the Kilkenny lead before the Faithful county replied via Screeney and Oisin Kelly to leave the minimum between the Leinster neighbours.
It proved to be one of three occasions that Offaly got within touching distance of Kilkenny in the second but they could never get level to really push the home outfit.
Cody kept Kilkenny tapping away in between a couple of Offaly goal attempt and by the 50th minute, the advantage for the winners went out to three points.
Screeney, Patrick Taaffe and sub Ciaran Cleary added further to the Offaly score but Kilkenny finished very strong with Shane Murphy and Paddy Deegan offsetting further points from Cody and Keoghan as they saw out the game well in the final few minutes.
Kilkenny: A Tallis; M Butler, M Carey, R Garrett; D Barcoe, D Corcoran, S Murphy (0-1); K Doyle, J Molloy (0-3); L Connellan, E Cody (0-10, 7fs and 1 '65), C Beirne (0-1); G Dunne (0-1), L Moore, M Keoghan (0-3).
Subs: Subs: E McDermott for Moore (48); S Donnelly for Dunne (48); P Deegan (0-1) for Garrett (50); N Shortall for Connellan (55); R Reid for Barcoe (61).
Offaly: L Hoare; P Taaffe (0-1), B Miller, B Conneely; D Ravenhill (0-1), D Shirley, B Kavanagh; L Watkins (0-2), C King; C Doyle, B Duignan, R Ravenhill; D Bourke (0-1), O Kelly (0-1), A Screeney (0-9, 6fs).
Subs: C Spain for Shirley (25); D Hand for Duignan (48); L Kavanagh for Watkins (53); E Kelly for Kavanagh (66); C Cleary (0-1) for King (68).
Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)
