Kilkenny never had to move out of first gear to beat a disappointing Dublin by 4-19 to 0-12 at sunny Croke Park.

Last year's Hurler of the Year Tommy Walsh was immense as the indefatigable Cats crept closer to a twelfth provincial title in 13 years. The expected Dublin challenge never materialised and the Black & Amber finally pulled away for a thumping 19-point win, with Aidan Fogarty coming off the bench in the second half to bag two goals.

The magnificent Henry Shefflin also marked the occasion in style by clipping over 0-12 to become the leading all-time marksman in championship hurling.

Seven Shefflin points and a first-minute Eddie Brennan goal propelled Kilkenny into a 1-10 to 0-8 interval advantage. Brian Cody's charges controlled the opening 35 minutes and could have been further clear but for some errant finishing. Dub 'keeper Gary Maguire also made some wonderful stops to keep his side in touch.

Liam Ryan came into Dublin's starting XV at corner forward but it was Cats No.13 Brennan who found the net after just 40 seconds, shortening the stick after collecting a good pass from TJ Reid. At the other end, David O'Callaghan pulled back a point in the third minute when he had a brief glimpse of goal.

Henry Shefflin banged over a brace of points - one from a free and one from play - inside 30 seconds and Dubs All Star Alan McCrabbe fluffed a free before thumping over his team's second minor from a close-range free in the eighth minute.

After Gary Maguire made a good save between the Dublin posts to deny Michael Rice, Martin Comerford hit a poor wide for the defending champions. McCrabbe's second point reduced the margin to two points - 1-2 to 0-3 - after eleven minutes.

Shefflin and McCrabbe traded frees and Brian Hogan's effort was off target before centre back Joey Boland closed the gap to a single point with an excellent Dublin point. In the 17th minute, Maguire made a brilliant double save to deny Richie Power and Shefflin, but the Black & Amber No.12 tapped over the resultant 65 to become the all-time top scorer in championship hurling, eclipsing the record previously held by fellow countyman Eddie Keher.

Another Shefflin 65 in the 19th minute made it 1-5 to 0-5 and Cats captain Reid collected a sideline cut from Tommy Walsh to stretch the gap to four three minutes later. But McCarbbe's free a few seconds later brought the Sky Blues back within a goal.

A fantastic Comerford point made it 1-7 to 0-6 but Limerick native Maurice O'Brien slotted over a beautiful point from left half back. Shefflin dropped over a free from out around the middle of the pitch and Reid contributed the Cats' eighth wide. The red-hot favourites were dominant and could have been out of sight but for some rusty shooting.

After O'Brien saw yellow, Shefflin drilled a free wide as the profligacy spread. At the Hill 16 end, Liam Rushe showed Noel Hickey a clean pair of heels only to shoot into the side-netting from a tight angle. McCrabbe's fifth pointed free had the gap down to a manageable three points with as many minutes left in the first half.

Shefflin (free) and Reid added to the Noresiders tally either side of another decent Maguire save and the short whistle sounded with five points between them.

Anthony Daly introduced Paul Ryan - who had originally been named in the starting team - at half time in place of Simon Lambert but Richie Hogan increased the gap within a minute of the restart. Lucan Sarsfields clubman Peter Kelly arrowed over a lovely Dublin point and Maguire made another distinguished save from Michael Fennelly.

Dublin were failing to get quality ball into their teenage full forward Rushe, while Shefflin's 43rd-minute free made it 1-12 to 0-9. The Cats' strength in depth was underlined by the introduction of 2008 Hurler of the Year Eoin Larkin with 26 minutes left.

Maguire was Dublin's outstanding performer and he made a save from Shefflin as the All-Ireland champions laboured to put a disappointing Dublin side to the sword. Kelly fired over his second point in the 48th minute and Thomas Brady deflected Brennan's goalbound effort over the bar for a 13th Kilkenny point.

However, the floodgates would soone open...

In the 49th minute, Richie Power - who had moved to the edge of the square - accelerated through the Dublin defence to net a fabulous goal to make it a nine-point match - 2-13 to 0-10. Almost immediately, we had proof that foul play can pay when Cats goalie PJ Ryan felled Paul Ryan as he went through for what would have been a definite consolation goal. JJ Delaney blocked the resultant penalty from Ryan and the Metropolitans were bang out of luck.

Shefflin's free - his ninth point of the game - from the 65-metre line left the score at 2-14 to 0-10 with three-quarters of the match elapsed. McCrabbe and Shefflin traded frees and Ryan's low free was saved by his namesake in the Kilkenny goal. John McCaffrey converted a 65 after another Dublin close-range free - this time from McCrabbe - was blocked on the line.

When Larkin was hauled down by Stephen Hiney, Shefflin knocked over his eleventh of the day. Substitute Aidan Fogarty added a third Kilkenny goal after Maguire had dealt well with Shefflin's original effort - 3-16 to 0-12 with six minutes left.

Rice curried Dublin no favours by adding a brace of points for the winners and there was no easing up as Fogarty bagged his second goal in the 67th minute to put 18 points between them. The procession continued with a twelfth Shefflin point and Kilkenny marched on while an under-par and outclassed Dublin head for the Qualifiers.

Kilkenny - PJ Ryan; J Dalton, N Hickey, J Tyrell; T Walsh, B Hogan, JJ Delaney; M Rice (0-2), M Fennelly; M Comerford (0-1), R Hogan, H Shefflin (0-12); E Brennan (1-1), TJ Reid (0-2), R Power (1-0). Subs: E Larkin for R Hogan (44, 0-1)), A Fogarty (2-0)for Brennan (53), J Mulhall for Reid (53), D Lyng for Power (64).

Dublin - G Maguire; N Corcoran, T Brady, O Gough; S Hiney, J Boland (0-1), M O'Brien (0-1); J McCaffrey (0-1), S Durkin; L Rushe, L Ryan, P Kelly (0-2); D O'Callaghan (0-1), S Lambert, A McCrabbe (0-6). Subs: P Ryan for Lambert (ht), M Carton for O'Brien (45), D O'Dwyer for Durkin (45), D Treacy for O'Callaghan (51), K Flynn for L Ryan (63).

Ref - D Kirwan (Cork). Tweet

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