But that's where the whistling past the graveyard ends. Brian Cody doesn't take provincial semi-final opponents for granted, never has. (Even in 2004 against Wexford, Kilkenny had nosed ahead entering injury time. ) The reason they've riddled so many opponents, heedless of the paucity of the resistance, is because yer man doesn't allow them to doze on the job.

In the extremely unlikely event this is to be won from the bench, clearly it won't be Offaly who do the winning. Yet the champions' sounding of the bugle for Richie Hogan, included in the subs today, says less about last year's minor starlet, the same youth who made the difference in both instalments of the All Ireland under-21 final two-parter, than it does about their lack of genuine options in the corners of attack.

Although Aidan Fogarty (right), Eoin Larkin and Eoin McCormack will all gain game-time as the summer unfolds, it'll be a turn-up for the books if any of them puts in an unassailable claim to one of the jerseys. Hogan with his sawn-offshotgun directness is so much more accomplished that his supporters poohpooh the notion of covering up one so precocious. They may well be correct.

A seven-point defeat by Cork was as bad as it got for Offaly during a National League qualifying phase in which they beat the eventual winners and drew with Clare. The 2002 meeting in Thurles was the only time since 1999 that they've kept the margin of defeat against Kilkenny to single figures. Here's one who expects them to add to that today.

Verdict Kilkenny KILKENNY PJ Ryan; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, B Hogan, JJ Delaney; D Lyng, J Fitzpatrick; W O'Dwyer, H Shef"in (capt), E Larkin; E Brennan, M Comerford, A Foga r ty OFFALY B Mullins; C Hernon, P Cleary, D Franks; G Oakley, D Kenny, K Brady; B Teehan, B Murphy; G Hanniffy, R Hanniffy, D Molloy; B Carroll, J Bergin, D Murray Enda McEvoy