Kilkenny signalled their 2024 intentions with a 5-22 to 0-9 hammering of Carlow in last night's rescheduled Walsh Cup opener at a bitterly cold Netwatch Cullen Park.

Billy Ryan scored 1-4 from play as Derek Lyng's charges blew off the cobwebs with a ruthless display against last year's Joe McDonagh Cup champions who they will meet again in the Leinster SHC in April.

Not long back from a team holiday in Morocco, Carlow were on the backfoot from as early as the second minute when Ryan raised Kilkenny's first green flag. Liam Blanchfield added a second goal eight minutes later, while Billy Drennan was accurate from frees as the Cats took a 2-12 to 0-5 lead into the break.

It continued to be one-way traffic after the restart when further majors from substitutes Eoin Guilfoyle, Ted Dunne and Denis Walsh added to the home side's woes.

Carlow are in action again on Sunday against Wexford, while Kilkenny will face the same opposition a week later.

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