KILKENNY...3-31 ANTRIM...3-7: It was all so easy for former champions Kilkenny when they ambled their way to a 24-point victory over lowly Antrim in this Group Two game in the National Hurling League at Nowlan Park, yesterday.

This was Kilkenny's sixth victory on the trot. For Antrim it was their biggest defeat of the campaign but following Laois's win over Offaly, they avoided relegation.

"I told the players from the beginning not to worry about results in the league" insisted Antrim manager, Dinny Cahill.

"This league was about finding players. We did that and I am happy going forward to the championship".

There was little comfort for Cahill or his charges as Kilkenny let rip from the off.

During the opening five minutes Aidan Fogarty threw over three points. In the 10th minute Jimmy Coogan got to the end of a pass from Eddie Brennan before shooting a goal.

Already the difference was 1-6 to 0-2. If Antrim came to Nowlan Park facing an uphill battle, the challenge had already turned into a mountain climb.

The champions continued to charge forward and by half-time they were 2-16 to 2-4 in front.

A mere one point of that total, Henry Shefflin's lone score, came via a free.

Antrim's only morsel of comfort was the fact that they claimed the best score of the half.

That was Liam Watson's 26th-minute goal which was a splendid effort following a pass from Patrick Richmond.

Kilkenny continued their onward charge throughout the second half.

Antrim never looked capable of containing them. The 30th point arrived two minutes from the end through John Maher.

"We had a job to do and we did it," was the simple summary of Kilkenny manager Brian Cody, on a victory that didn't exactly have him jumping for joy.

"The players know they are playing for places on the championship team and they went for it".

KILKENNY: PJ Ryan; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, M Phelan; B Hogan, P Barry, JJ Delaney; T Walsh, P Tennyson (0-3); H Shefflin (1-1, point free), J Maher (0-5), E Brennan (0-2); C Phelan (0-4), J Coogan (1-9, 2 points frees, one 65), A Fogarty (0-6). Subs: E Mackey for Barry (half time); D Lyng for Shefflin (40); K Coogan for Hickey (40); W Burke for Hogan (49); J Fitzpatrick (1-1) for Brennan (51).

ANTRIM: R McGarry; M Kettle, M McCambridge, B Herron; M Magill, K McKeegan, J Campbell; C Cunning, N Reynolds; P Richmond (0-2), C McGuickian (0-1), L Richmond; P Cunningham, M Scullion, L Watson (3-4, 2-3 frees). Subs: K McDonnell for McGuickian (48); S Kelly for Reynolds (50); N McCallin for Magill (60); J Scullion for Cunningham (62).

Referee: J Kelly (Wexford).