This was a very disappointing game. The only stage when there was even the semblance of a contest was just after half-time when Wexford strung a few points together and followed it with an admittedly easy goal by Rory Jacob to cut the margin to three points.

That was the only hint of the fighting spirit that Wexford traditionally show in this fixture. The rest of it was basically a procession for Kilkenny. Wexford were in trouble all over the place.

Not exactly exciting viewing.

Beforehand, it was hard to work out realistically how Wexford could win. They needed to take everything that came their way. Instead, Rory Jacob had a nightmare with his shooting and Damien Fitzhenry blasted a penalty over the bar when they really needed the goal.

Any chance they had of being competitive disappeared, particularly with the crazy wides. At the other end, Kilkenny were economical.

Wexford for a long time were playing a two-man full-forward line, with Stephen Doyle, their most promising forward in the Nowlan Park semi-final, out around the middle, which I found incomprehensible.

There was no urgency about Wexford, no conviction in their play. It was akin to the terrible performance against Clare in last year's All-Ireland quarter-final. I'm worried about their future in the championship because they'll be playing either Waterford or Galway and, on this form, they'll be destroyed.

Their half backs, who had looked really well against Offaly, were continually off the pace and struggling to get in decent clearances. They were virtually anonymous at centrefield and wasted a whole series of scoring chances.

At one point the inevitability of the result seemed to grip Kilkenny as well. Henry Shefflin never got out of second gear, but still looked completely at ease and scored a goal that was the highlight of the afternoon, although he'll be unhappy with some of the chances he missed.

This match was expected to be about at least setting a benchmark for Kilkenny and giving Brian Cody and the supporters a good indicator of where they stood.

Instead, it was impossible to judge. James McGarry in the goal had next to nothing to do.

That's not to say that they won't be concerned about aspects of this performance. The full-back line looked at times uncertain. They won't be happy with the Rory Jacob goal or the amount of ball he won off Donncha Cody - even if his shooting was poor on the day.

JJ Delaney did well at full back, but, long term, Noel Hickey is a more natural number three so there are concerns on that line.

But it must have been hard to maintain concentration when the match never really looked under threat. Even when Wexford got their first goal, Kilkenny just put the foot down and the response was immediate. That point from Cha Fitzpatrick just after the Rory Jacob goal killed the game.

The way the half forwards lined out, Eddie Brennan, Cha at centre forward and Michael Rice, who hardly did enough to nail down a place - how would that line go against the Cork half backs?

I'd imagine Eoin Larkin will end up at centre forward. He's better there and got squeezed at full forward.

Richie Mullally was very quiet at midfield and I was impressed with Michael Fennelly when he came in. I'd say he's in with a good chance of starting the All-Ireland quarter-final in three weeks' time.

The trouble for Kilkenny is that they go back to training this week with a lot of players feeling they've a chance of playing in the quarter-final. They still can't be sure about their championship team.

With the number of good players on the fringes, it's a difficult team to pick and that's why they're still undecided on the best starting 15.

In their next match they have every chance of playing Galway after Waterford's win yesterday. If not, it will be Limerick and after their recovery at the weekend - they beat Offaly by 10 points while Wexford beat them by only one - that won't be a walkover.

Either way, there's a stiffer challenge coming.

Cody and his management would have hoped for clearer pointers on their deficiencies than Wexford were able to provide.

It's not what either side wanted.