Kilkenny led almost from start to finish to defeat Kildare in the opening round of the Leinster Intermediate Hurling Championship on Saturday evening.

Scorers - Kilkenny (Shefflin 0-10, R Shortall 1-3, D Maher, T Shefflin and P Treacy 1-2 each, B Barcoe 0-4, PJ Cody 0-3, J Bolger and A Cleere 0-2 each); Kildare (T Carew and T Spain 0-3 each, J Brennan and N Casey 0-1 each).

Referee: P Aherne (Carlow).