Kilkenny 5-21 Wexford 0-17: Three Kilkenny goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half ended any hope Wexford had of upsetting the odds in the Leinster final at Croke Park today.
Whatever was said at half-time by Brian Cody certainly did the trick because, after the Cats looking distinctly off colour in the first half, they were fierce in the second.
Two goals from Eddie Brennan, the first a wonderfully improvised effort, before one from Richie Power killed off the tie before substitute Aidan Fogarty strike five minutes from time.
Henry Shefflin's ninth minute penalty after Paul Roche held Eoin Larkin's hurl was all the separated the sides at the break, with the Cats leading 1-09 to 0-10.
Shefflin pointed twice in the first half, while James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick struck three points but Wexford were well in the game thanks mainly to the efforts of Diarmuid Lyng who scored four before the break.
The goal and points from Shefllin and Larkin looked like they might allow the All-Ireland champions to pull away but Wexford were not about to give in.
Michael and Rory Jacob both pointed in quick succession before PJ Nolan got the first of two sublime points to close the gap to three.
Tommy Walsh was booked in the 29th minute for chopping across Lyng but, undeterred, the Wexford man added two more points and the underdogs went in at the break two points down.
They emerged with purpose but were dealt a blow after moving to within a point when Brennan somehow managed to scramble the ball over the line with his back to goal and when being closely marshalled by Damien Fitzhenry.
Richie Power added a point for the Cats before Brennan produced a shot that arrowed across Fitzhenry's goal and into the top corner. Suddenly Kilkenny had a 10 point lead and normal service resumed.
On 50 minutes, it was Power's turn to burst the net, this time after a great run by Larkin drew the defence before his handpass left the full forward with just Fitzhenry to beat.
Twenty minutes into the second half and Wexford had only managed two points, through Lyng.
Shefflin, Power et al were keeping the scores ticking over at the other end and there was 15 points in it when Stephen Doyle scored Wexford's third of the half in the 57th minute.
Lyng did his best to keep the score respectable but at the other end Fogarty stole in to capitalise on some defensive indecision and Shefflin brought his tally to 1-07 to seal Kilkenny's fourth Leinster title in a row and their 10th in 11 years.