Aaron Niland struck 3-08 as Galway dispatched a wasteful Wexford side with some ease in their Leinster Under-20 hurling championship in Laois Hire O'Moore Park.
Playing into high winds in the first half, Galway led 2-04 to 0-06 at the break, with Clarinbridge star Niland burying both goals, the second being rifled into the top corner after taking a pass from Vince Morgan.
Wexford made poor use of the elements in the opening half hour, missing numerous chances, scoring just one point from play courtesy of Podge Doyle.
Into the wind, Wexford did start the second half brightly, with points from O'Brien and Jack Nolan bringing it back to a two-point game.
However, Galway eased clear again with the next three points and the game was as good as over by the 46th minute when Niland completed his hat-trick, rounding his marker and batting home from close range.
Galway fell foul of the new dissent rule on 51 minutes, the hosts being awarded a 20-metre free. O'Brien went low with his effort, bouncing the ball underneath Galway net-minder Chris Callanan.
But that was it from Wexford, whose wide tally hit 14 in the end. Galway tagged on 1-04 in the closing stages, substitute Harry Holmes slotting a fourth goal after being put through by Brian Callanan, the Tribesmen winning 4-13 to 1-08.
Kilkenny reeled off the final six points of the game to overcome the challenge of Kildare in their Leinster opener in Hawkfield.
Kildare started brightly, with a point from Tim Ryan putting them 0-03 to 0-02 ahead after 10 minutes.
However, Kilkenny led by six at the break, Paddy Lacey burying a goal in the top corner from a tight angle to give the Cats a 1-07 to 0-04 lead.
Tom Power rattled off four pointed frees in succession midway through the second half to bring it back to a three-point game with 15 points remaining.
However, Kilkenny reeled off six in a row to assure themselves of victory, with Colm Treacy, Jack Dollard, David Barcoe, Ollie O'Donovan, Jake Mullen and finally Lacey tagging on points, the game 1-16 to 0-10 to the Cats.
Elsewhere in Group 2, a late point from Mark Mulrooney saw Offaly snatch a dramatic victory against Laois in O'Moore Park.
Trailing by three at the break, Laois seemed to have taken the initiative in the third quarter, Cormac Byrne's goal levelling the game after the restart, before a burst of points between the 40th and 45th minutes put them three up.
Offaly battled back with points from Mulrooney, Odhran Fletcher and Andrew Horgan, leaving the match finely poised entering a chaotic endgame.
Conor Headen's goal looked to have swung the game in the hosts' favour down the stretch but Offaly hit back with a goal immediately through Patrick Lyons.
The scoring was tit-for-tat, Fletcher and Sean Carey nudging Offaly ahead, Justin Duggan and Eoin Delaney replying for Laois. But it was Mulrooney who had the final say deep in injury-time with his fourth point of the second half. Laois were unable to respond, a late equaliser attempt drifting wide.
In the other Group 2 game in Parnell Park, Dublin were much too strong for Meath, winning 3-15 to 0-10.
Callum Graham bagged a brace of goals in the opening 20 minutes, the Dubs leading by six points at the break.
Darragh Kilduff found the net shortly after the restart and the Dubs cantered away to an easy victory, 14 points the margin in the finish.
