Five star Cats open up Leinster campaign with huge win over Antrim
Kilkenny 5-30 Antrim 0-13
Kilkenny were never threatened as they opened up the defence of their Leinster Championship in ruthless fashion when claiming a facile 32 point success over a disappointing Antrim side at UPMC Nowlan Park.
A first half penalty from TJ Reid which coincided with Antrim goalkeeper Ryan Elliott getting a black card got the ball rolling for Derek Lyng's team with Owen Wall, Gearoid Dunne and Billy Drennan all getting goals in the second period.
The big disappointment for the Cats will be the sight of Adrian Mullen, Eoin Cody and Eoin Murphy all going off injured and with a visit to Salthill to take on Galway coming next weekend, it may be an anxious few days for Kilkenny supporters.
Antrim started quite brightly but once TJ netted in the 17th minute to put six points between the sides, it was all one way traffic for the side in black and amber.
Antrim only registered two points from play in the opening period and by the time of the change of ends, there was no doubt as to who the winning side would be as Kilkenny led 1-15 to 0-7.
Last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists not only doubled their points tally in the second period but they also added on four goals with the bench contributing 4-9 in total.
Conal Cunning was top scorer for the visitors and he kept Antrim plugging away but it was a game where Kilkenny were in a different league class wise to the opposition in a dominating display where the final scoreline read 5-30 to 0-13.
Teams and Scorers
Kilkenny- Billy Drennan (1-6, two frees and one '65); Owen Wall (2-2); TJ Reid (1-5, three frees); Gearoid Dunne (1-1); Cian Kenny (0-4); John Donnelly, Martin Keoghan (0-3 each); Paddy Deegan (0-2); Shane Murphy, Mikey Carey, Richie Reid, Adrian Mullen (0-1 each)
Antrim- Conal Cunning (0-7, seven frees); James McNaughton (0-2); Eoghan Campbell, Conal Bohill, Nigel Elliot, Conor McCann (0-1 each)
Kilkenny- Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Shane Murphy; Paddy Deegan, David Blanchfield, Mikey Carey; Cian Kenny, Richie Reid; John Donnelly, Adrian Mullen, Tom Phelan; Martin Keoghan, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody.
Subs- Gearoid Dunne for Donnelly, 14 mins; Aidan Tallis for E.Murphy, h-t; Owen Wall for Cody, 38 mins; Billy Drennan for TJ Reid, 44 mins; Billy Ryan for Phelan, 53 mins; Tommy Walsh for Butler, 62 mins.
Antrim- Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, Ryan McGarry, Paddy Burke; Scott Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Conall Bohill; James McNaughton, Niall O'Connor; Michael Bradley, Nigel Elliot, Niall McKenna; Conal Cunning, Conor McCann, Sean Elliott.
Subs- Tiernan Smyth for R.Elliott, (Temporary Sub) 20 mins; Niall McKenna for R.Elliott, 32 mins; Rory McCloskey for Walsh, 37 mins; Conor Boyd for McKenna, 59 mins.
Referee- Shane Hynes (Galway)