ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1 QUARTER-FINAL

KILKENNY 6-20 OFFALY 0-14

Paul Keane reports from Nowlan Park, Kilkenny

Rampant Kilkenny easily won the battle at Nowlan Park, cruising through to the Allianz hurling league semi-finals alongside Clare but there were a number of concerning casualties in the process.

Boss Brian Cody fielded an experimental team with big guns TJ Reid and Richie Hogan rested though the All-Ireland champions still had 24 points to spare on their Leinster neighbours.

Colin Fennelly hit 2-1 while Kevin Kelly, who finished with 1-7, John Power, Lester Ryan and Liam Blanchfield all raised green flags in front of almost 5,000.

The win secured a semi-final clash with the Banner County on April 17 though it remains to be seen if the Fennelly brothers, Colin and Michael, will be available after hamstring twinges.

Michael, starting his first game of the season due to long-term back trouble, came off early on while Colin pulled up late on and was taken off.

It was a difficult day for Offaly whose campaign is over and they will now focus on their Leinster championship qualifier series tie against Westmeath on May 1.

Eamonn Kelly's visitors slipped 15 points behind as early as the 25th minute and looked in real trouble. Kilkenny twice blasted 1-5 without reply in that period to open up a gigantic 2-10 to 0-1 lead.

Kelly, who netted twice against Tipperary, hit 1-3 early on including a fine 16th minute while Fennelly registered their second major in the 24th minute after a trademark burst of pace. It was all too easy for Kilkenny who dropped the intensity slightly towards half-time and conceded four points to the visitors.

Shane Dooley and Kevin Connolly accounted for all of Offaly's scores as they reached the interval trailing by 2-11 to 0-5. Offaly continued to impress after the restart with four points though Kilkenny were soon back in their groove and Fennelly hit his second goal in the 40th minute, sneaking a powerful shot just beyond 'keeper James Dempsey.

Power grabbed Kilkenny's fourth before midfielder Ryan directed a long ball in to the net for their fifth and ex-underage star Blanchfield wrapped up the goal blitz in the 65th minute.

Scorers for Kilkenny: Kevin Kelly 1-7 (0-7f), Colin Fennelly 2-1, Liam Blanchfield 1-3, John Power 1-2, Lester Ryan 1-2, Michael Fennelly 0-2, Walter Walsh 0-1, Cillian Buckley 0-1, Conor O'Shea 0-1

Scorers for Offaly: Shane Dooley 0-6 (0-6f), Kevin Connolly 0-3, James Mulrooney 0-2, Paddy Murphy 0-1, Colin Egan 0-1, Joe Bergin 0-1
** Kilkenny:** Eoin Murphy; Paul Murphy, Robert Lennon, Shane Prendergast; Conor O'Shea, Kieran Joyce, Cillian Buckley; Michael Fennelly, Lester Ryan; Walter Walsh, Colin Fennelly, Kevin Kelly; Liam Blanchfield, Jonjo Farrell, John Power.

Subs: Joey Holden for Lennon (7), Diarmuid Cody for M Fennelly (25), Jackie Tyrrell for Murphy (28), Michael Malone for Cody (44), Conor Martin for Walsh (62).
** Offaly: James Dempsey; Niall Wynne, Dermot Shortt, Chris McDonald; Dermot Mooney, Conor Doughan, Pat Camon; Sean Ryan, Kevin Connolly; Colin Egan, Shane Kinsella, Padraig Guinan; Shane Dooley, Joe Bergin, James Mulrooney.
** Subs: Paddy Murphy for Guinan (29), Cillian Kiely for Ryan (53), Dan Kelleher for Shortt (53), James Gorman for Kinsella (64), Jason Sampson for Doughan (68).
** Referee: **Alan Kelly (Galway).