Kilkenny 2-23 Waterford 3-15

Read our minute-by-minute matchtracker here.

Kilkenny have booked their place in this season's All-Ireland SHC final after they beat Waterford in a highly entertaining encounter at Croke Park.

They were made to fight all the way by Davy Fitzgerald's courageous Waterford, who were once again left to curse the brilliance of Henry Shefflin.

Shefflin tormented the opposition defence all afternoon, helping himself to a 1-14 tally, 1-6 of which was from play.

While Waterford had to chase the game, they were always in with a chance of avenging last year's 23 points drubbing in the All-Ireland final, and two Shane Walsh goals ensured that the crowd of 61,962 was kept interested right to the end.

While the fact that they avoided a repeat of last September's 23 points demolition will be of no consolation, pride in the Deise colours has been restored, and Kilkenny remain hot favourites to add to their remarkable run of success.

Waterford got in for a goal in the fifth minute when Kevin Moran drove through the middle before slipping the ball to Shane Walsh, who finished with composure past PJ Ryan.

But Shefflin's accuracy had already been brought to bear on the contest, and the Cats never looked to be under any real pressure, even when they trailed by 1-3 to 0-4 after 12 minutes.

Shefflin played a crucial role in Eddie Brennan's 13th-minute goal, collecting a long delivery from Jackie Tyrrell to instinctively slip the ball out left for the Graig Ballycallan man to beat Clinton Hennessy with an angled shot.

Eoin Larkin floated over a couple of points, and by the 19th minute, it was 1-7 to 1-3 in favour of the champions.

Waterford's attempts to bring John Mullane into the game were doomed throughout the first half, with two defenders confronting him every time he gained possession, although he did steer over a brilliant early score.

With James Cha Fitzpatrick imposing himself on the midfield battle, and Tyrrell, JJ Delaney and Brian Hogan solid at the back, the Cats stretched their lead, but the Deise were able to hit back for scores through Kevin Moran and four Eoin Kelly frees.

But Kilkenny struck for a second goal in the 26th minute, once again the product of a long delivery from defence.

Somehow, Tommy Walsh's punt made it through to Shefflin, and he rifled first-time to the net, giving Hennessy no chance.

Kilkenny led by 2-12 to 1-9 at the break, but the Munster men made a flying start to the second half when Walsh caught the Kilkenny defence on the hop to boot home his second goal.

Brian Cody took the unusual step of replacing Shefflin for little more than a minute by Richie Hogan so he could change his boots, and he quickly got back into swing, with his fourth converted free.

Everything he touched flew over the bar, but Davy Fitzgerald's men refused to allow their heads to drop.

They posted worthy replies through Kelly and substitute Dan Shanahan, and got themselves right back in the game when Kelly's 65 went all the way to the net in the 63rd minute to narrow the gap to four points.

King Henry steadied the ship once more, however, with another volley of scores, and the Cats are purring once more.

Kilkenny: PJ Ryan, M Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell, T Walsh, B Hogan, J Tennyson, J Fitzpatrick (0-1), M Rice (0-1), H Shefflin (1-14, 7f, 1 '65), M Comerford, E Larkin (0-2), E Brennan (1-2), R Power (0-1), A Fogarty (0-1).

Subs: TJ Reid for Comerford (40), R Hogan for Shefflin (44), Shefflin for Hogan (45), Hogan (0-1) for Fogarty (47), D Lyng for Fitzpatrick (56).

Waterford: C Hennessy, E Murphy, A Kearney, N Connors, T Browne, M Walsh, D Prendergast, S O'Sullivan (0-1,f), K Moran (0-1), S Prendergast (0-1), S Molumphy, S Walsh (2-0), J Mullane (0-1), E Kelly (1-9, 1-0 '6, 0-7f), E McGrath (0-1).

Subs: D Shanahan (0-1) for S Prendergast (52), M Shanahan for Walsh (61), J Nagle for Molumphy (61), K McGrath for E McGrath (64).

Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath).