Dublin stepped on the gas to inflict a 1-22 to 3-13 defeat on Kilkenny at Parnell Park.

The winners completely dominated the second quarter as they roared into a massive ten-point interval advantage, 1-16 to 1-6.

The first four points were traded inside the opening five minutes and Conal Keaney edged the Dubs ahead before Alan McCrabbe hammered over a '65': 0-4 to 0-2.

Kilkenny temporarily went in front when John Power found the net but Danny Sutcliffe immediately levelled the scores again: 0-5 to 1-2 after ten minutes.

Colm Cronin, McCrabbe and Joey Boland added to the hosts' tally, while Eoin Larkin was just about keeping the Noresiders in touch.

After Larkin (free) and Aidan Fogarty had replied to Keaney's point, the Dubs led by the minimum, 0-10 to 1-6, with ten minutes left in the first half.

With the bit between their teeth and the wind at their backs, Anthony Daly's charges went on to register 1-6 without reply before the short whistle. Johnny McCaffrey, Sutcliffe and Boland tagged on points before Sutcliffe's long-range effort was spilled to the net by red-faced Cats goalie David Herity.

David O'Callaghan quickly added a point and a Sutcliffe brace closed the first-half scoring.

The Cats weren't slow in eating into the ten-point deficit upon the restart: Colin Fennelly's bullet goal was followed by another three-pointer from a TJ Reid penalty and, when Jojo Farrell added a point, it was a three-point game, 1-16 to 3-7.

A couple of McCrabbe pointed frees - the second of which was goalbound before being diverted over - restored Dublin's grip on proceedings but the Black & Amber kept pushing on with scores from Cillian Buckley and Richie Hogan (free).

Larkin's free left a goal between them again with 13 minutes left (1-19 to 3-10) but McCrabbe, Mark Schutte and Ryan O'Dwyer grabbed the scores that ensured that the Leinster champions could not be caught.

Dublin - G Maguire; N Corcoran, P Kelly, C O'Callaghan; S Durkin, L Rushe, M Carton; J Boland (0-3) J McCaffrey (0-1); C Cronin (0-1), R O'Dwyer (0-1), D Sutcliffe (1-5); D O'Callaghan (0-1), C Keaney (0-3, 1f), A McCrabbe (0-6, 2f, 1sl, 1'65). Subs: J Doughan for N Corcoran, M Schutte (0-1) for J McCaffrey, N McMorrow for C Cronin, S McGrath for D O'Callaghan.

Kilkenny - D Herity; P Murphy, B Hogan, T Keogh; T Walsh, L Ryan, J Holden; R Hogan (0-1f), C Buckley (0-1); W Walsh (0-1), C Fennelly (1-0), E Larkin (0-4, 3f, 1'65); JJ Farrell (0-1), J Power (1-1), A Fogarty (0-1). Subs: TJ Reid (1-0pen) for J Power, P Walsh (0-2) for T Walsh, H Shefflin for A Fogarty, B Kennedy for L Ryan, R Power (0-1) for W Walsh.

Referee - J Sexton. Tweet

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