Kris Boyd bagged all four goals as Killie completely outclasses their nearest neighbours in the West Sound Big Match at Rugby Park.
But if Boyd's team-mates were as clinical in front of goal, the final score would have given a much more realistic picture of the home side's utter domination. Colin Nish was the main culprit, missing four glorious chances while Paul di Giacomo, Stevie Murray, Steven Naismith and Boyd himself all passed up opportunities they would expect to bury nine times out of ten.
Ayr keeper Mark McGeown made four fantastic saves to act as a one man resistance as his defence crumbled in front of him. Nish described it as "shooty-in" after-match and it was hard to argue.
Kilmarnock took the lead after only two minutes when Peter Leven's inwinging free-kick caused confusion in the visiting defence as the ball bounced off former Killie defender Barry McLaughlin and onto the crossbar and fell perfectly to Boyd who stabbed home from a yard.
Ayr should have equalised a minute later when Alan Combe miscued a clearance straight to Ian Cashmore, but the striker took too long and Combe was able to redeem himself with an excellent point blank block.
Paul di Giacomo showed that injury has not diminshed his ability with a beautiful run into the penalty area which ended with a fierce drive which McGeown tipped over well.
Boyd made it two in the 15th minute with anither simple goal. Leven's throw in was flicked on by Nish perfectly for Boyd who nodded home from two yards range.
Boyd completed is hat-trick in the 44th minute when he rose well to fire a strong header into the bottom corner after a good cross from Gary McDonald.
Nish had a great chance to make it four at the break when di Giacomo charged down a clearance leaving the gangly striker to charge into the box unhindered, but he shot wide of target. "If he had scored then, he wold probably have got a hat-trick in the second half," mused Jim Jefferies after the game.
Nish had two more chanes in the opening ten minutes of the second half, but oleyed high and wide from Murray's cross before McGeown somehow blocked his shot form six yards.
It was di Giacomo's turn to curse his luck in th 62nd minute when Boyd sent him clear. His shot beat the keeper but smacked the underside of the bar. The Ayr keeper made another save when Boyd beat the offside trap but was eventually beaten from the penalty spot when Murray was brought down by McLaughlin. Boyd hammered the ball powerfully into the corner of the net.
If Boyd had not gone on one of his trademark scoring sprees, Sunday's headines would have gone to Stevie Murray, whose wing play was a joy to behold and showed that he was back to full confidence and was prepared to take his man on at will.
Stevie Naismith almost made it five when he ran on to beat the badly executed offside trap and lifted the ball over the keeper, but the ball drifted narrowly past.