With nine of the side that lost last year's All-Ireland final to Clare featuring, the Cats done a second half demolition job in this Bord Gais Energy Leinster Under 21 hurling Championship at a Nowlan Park, Kilkenny on Wednesday night.
Goalkeeper Colin McGrath; Paul Murphy, Conor Fogarty, Liam Ryan, David Langton, Colin Fennelly, Mark Bergin, James Nolan, all started this game; with Michael Walsh, who lined out at right-half-back in last year's decider introduced for Mark Bergin late on.
And while the Cats had that experience to draw from, with no players having tasted Senior action for the Black and Amber, Offaly in contrast called on six Seniors including goalkeeper James Dempsey.
This was a top-drawer performance from Michael Walsh's charges, particularly in the second half as they gave Offaly little, with the Faithful County's woes compounded following the dismissal of Thomas Spain.
Indeed this was the heaviest defeat ever for an Offaly side at Under 21 level, who have to go back to 1982 for their previous worst - a 23-point loss to Kilkenny.
One of last year's Minor stars Walter Walsh certainly rose to the under 21 ranks well as he gave Offaly Senior panellist Eanna Murphy little change, with the DCU student bagging two points - while setting up his fellow forwards for excellent scores.
Despite Offaly being aided with a strong wind assistance in the first half, it was Kilkenny playing into the new stand end who exerted first-half dominance.
Bergin and Brian Lonergan traded early scores, but suddenly Kilkenny went on the rampage with five unanswered points.
Eoin Murphy, Liam Ryan, Colin Fennelly (2 ) and Walsh were on target to give the hosts a deserved 0-8 to 0-2 lead by the 17th minute.
A trio of James Mulrooney points, coupled with scores from Derek Morkan and Daniel Currams cut the deficit to two points in the 25th minute, but Kilkenny were strongest before the break.
The Cats first goal arrived in the 26th minute, after an initial shot was stopped by Offaly keeper Dempsey, but Mark Bergin was on hand to smash home the rebound to give his side a five-point lead.
A brace of points from Bergin, and another Walsh score ensured a 1-12 to 0-8 interval lead.
No one could have envisaged Offaly's inability to score in the second half, as Kilkenny firmly put the visitors to the wire.
O'Loughlin Gaels clubman Bergin added four points to his tally, with corner-forward James Nolan bagging the Cats second goal in the 34th minute, to ensure a 2-14 to 0-8 lead.
Colin Fennelly, Liam Ryan and Eoin Murphy each added a trio of points in the second half, with scores flying in from all angles, and manager Walsh afforded the luxury of substituting top-scorer Bergin; midfielder Fennelly and defender Richie Doyle; as 2008 All-Ireland minor winning trio Michael Walsh; Thomas Breen; and Michael Moloney tasted action for the closing eight minutes.
KILKENNY: Colin McGrath (St Martins ); Alan Cuddihy (Ballyhale Shamrocks ), Conor Fogarty (Erins Own ), Richie Doyle (Barrow Rangers ); PJ Rowe (Mooncoin ), Kieran Mooney (Conaghy Shamrocks ), David Langton (Clara ); Paul Murphy (Danesfort ), Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks ); Mark Bergin (O'Loughlin Gaels ), JJ Dunphy (Dunnamaggin ), Liam Ryan (Clara ); Eoin Murphy (Glenmore ), Walter Walsh (Tullogher Rosbercon ), James Nolan (Clara ). Subs: Adrian Stapleton (Dicksboro ) for W Walsh (45 ); Michael Fagan (Dicksboro ) for D Langton (45 ); Michael Walsh (Young Irelands ) for M Bergin (52 ); Thomas Breen (St Martins ) for C Fennelly (52 ); Michael Moloney (Blacks & Whites ) for R Doyle (52 ).
OFFALY: James Dempsey; Christopher Guinan, Eanna Murphy, Brian Coughlan; Colin Egan, Stephen Wynne, Barry Harding; Derek Morkan, Bryan Lonergan; James Mulrooney, Daniel Currams, Dermot Gath; Thomas Carroll, Mark Egan, Thomas Spain. Subs: T Bolger for D Gath (HT ); K Leonard for C Guinan (37 ); C McDonald for B Coughlan (45 ); M Ryan for M Egan (44 ).
REFEREE -- David Hughes (Carlow ).
