Kilkenny crushed Cork in a one-sided league decider at Thurles: 3-21 to 0-16.

This was a devastating display from the Liam MacCarthy holders, who lost talismanic Hurler of the Year Michael Fennelly to ankle ligament damage on an otherwise-wonderful day, grabbing their 15th league title (their first since 2009) in emphatic fashion.

Playing at championship intensity, Kilkenny roared into a 14-point interval lead thanks largely to goals from Eoin Larkin, Colin Fennelly and TJ Reid.

Points from magisterial midfielder Fennelly and Matt Ruth propelled the wind-assisted victors into an early lead and, on four minutes, Cats captain Eoin Larkin rolled a low shot past Rebel 'keeper Martin Coleman to the back of the net.

A Paddy Hogan free made it 1-3 to no score with not even five minutes on the clock yet… Paddy Hogan dropped over another excellent free from distance and Patrick Horgan opened the Rebel County account from an eighth-minute free before the Kilkenny No.9 added his third point of the match.

In the ninth minute, Colin Fennelly took a pass from Larkin and stepped inside his man to fire a second Kilkenny goal: 2-5 to 0-1. An excellent start for the All-Ireland champions and a nightmare for the Leesiders. Matthew Ruth added another point and it was 2-6 to 0-1 with just ten minutes played! Game Over already...

Horgan stroked over another free for the rattled Rebels and John Gardiner drilled over an inspirational Cork point from play before Colin Fennelly took his second point at the start of the second quarter, leaving ten between them.

Tommy Walsh crept forward to add the next point for the Noresiders in the 20th minute and Kilkenny's workrate was nothing short of phenomenal as they swarmed all around their opponents and refused to allow them a foothold in this match.

Paudie O'Sullivan almost got in for a Cork goal chance but the door was slammed shut in his face. At the other end, Kilkenny had temporarily lost their range and their wides tally rose to six by the 25th minute. But Cork captain Horgan landed an excellent point from play in the 27th minute.

Conor Lehane skinned Walsh and was crudely stopped in his tracks by JJ Delaney, resulting in a 21-metre free for Cork, which was moved in front of the posts after some Larkin indiscipline. Horgan's strike was deflected over the bar by David Herity and Kilkenny replied immediately through Ruth - their first score in ten minutes. But still Brian Cody's well-drilled charges led by ten…

Herity was wise to Horgan's cute effort to catch him unaware with a long-range free, saving as the Cork No.15 surprisingly went for the bottom corner and there was a three-point swing as Larkin tagged on a brace of frees to make it 2-11 to 0-5 after 33 minutes.

On 34 minutes, TJ Reid blasted home a third Kilkenny major after a bout of ping pong in the Cork goalmouth. Spare a thought for Coleman, who made a couple of saves but was still beaten for a third time. It was relentless stuff from the Black & Amber.

Horgan added an injury-time free for the Rebels who were already beaten out of sight by the time the short whistle sounded, 3-11 to 0-6.

The Munster county - who added Conor O'Sullivan and Darren Sweetnam to their team at half time - started the second half in determined mode with quickfire points from Horgan (free) and Niall McCarthy, but Larkin won and converted a Kilkenny free to make it a 13-point game…

Richie Hogan showed no ill-effects of his recent rib injury as he stroked over a lovely Kilkenny score but the winners received a definite blow when reigning Hurler of the Year Michael Fennelly was forced out of the action with what looked like an ankle injury.

Cork had no answer to Larkin and the James Stephens clubman won the ball himself before turning to stroke over his fourth point.

Sweetnam and Colin Fennelly traded points before the impressive Cillian Buckley - reposted at midfield - intervened with his first point of the campaign. Cork substitute Jamie Coughlan - wearing No.13 - slotted over for the Rebels within seconds of entering the fray.

William Egan also pointed for the losers with an excellent free from distance but Reid was on hand immediately to fire over from the sideline at the other end.

Coleman did well to deny the busy Colin Fennelly a second three-pointer. But No.13 Fennelly managed to tag on his third point unopposed in the 55th minute. It was all too easy for the Leinster and All-Ireland champions as the marking on that score was non-existent.

Horgan replied with his seventh point from play and corner back Shane O'Neill won the Rebel captain a free which he stroked effortlessly over the bar to bring the gap back to 14 with twelve minutes to go, 3-18 to 0-13. The Cats' All Star corner back Paul Murphy cleared off his line to deny Luke O'Farrell a consolation goal.

In keeping with how Cork's day was going, Horgan blasted a 62nd-minute penalty over the bar after he himself had gone to ground and they were again unlucky when Coughlan's goal was harshly ruled out.

Substitute Mark Bergin and Colin Fennelly added late efforts to the winners' tally as they moved 15 points clear before the end of normal time. Sweetnam replied but Reid tagged on another score for the rampant, runaway victors. Herity didn't have much to do but he was on hand to tip sub Cathal Naughton's late, late rasper over the bar.

A facile win for the Cats then, with 3-15 of their tally coming from play. All this without injured trio Henry Shefflin, Richie Power and Aidan Fogarty! Kilkenny look to be in pretty solid shape as they await their championship opener in seven weeks time.

Kilkenny: D Herity; P Murphy, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell; T Walsh (0-1), B Hogan, R Doyle; M Fennelly (0-1), P Hogan (0-3); R Hogan (0-1), TJ Reid (1-2), C Buckley (0-1); C Fennelly (1-4), E Larkin (1-4), M Ruth (0-3). Subs: K Joyce, J Mulhall, J Breen, M Bergin (0-1).

Cork: M Coleman; S O'Neill, S McDonnell, B Murphy; S Ó hAilpín, E Cadogan, W Egan (0-1); L McLoughlin, J Gardiner (0-1); C Lehane, P Cronin, N McCarthy (0-1); L O'Farrell, P O'Sullivan, P Horgan (0-9). Subs: C O'Sullivan, D Sweetnam (0-2), C Naughton (0-1), J Coughlan (0-1). Tweet

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