Tipperary 0-11 Kildare 0-09
Jack Kennedy was the hero for Tipperary as he kicked four points to set up a Munster final re-match with Kerry in the All-Ireland minor decider on 20 September.
It also gives the Premier County the chance to complete an historic All-Ireland minor double as they take on Galway in the hurling decider next Sunday.
Kildare were unable to hold the 2011 champions, who had the strength in-depth on the bench to call upon and the return from injury of dual star Stephen Quirke was a massive boost for Tipp.
He came on at the end of the first-half and caused consternation at full forward after the break.
Midfielder Kennedy kicked three points at the start of the second half and that provided the basis for the win after the sides went in level at six points apiece at half time.
Emmet Moloney was sent-off for Tipperary for two yellow cards in the 44th minute, but the beaten Munster finalists regrouped and will look for revenge against Kerry.
In the first ever minor championship meeting between these sides they were level on two occasions in the first half before going in level at the break.
Kildare were the more seasoned outfit and with six games under their belt already this term, as well as regular visits to Croke Park, they should have made the better start.
However, it was Tipperary who looked more confident in front of goal in the early stages - powerhouse dual star Alan Tynan slotted their first from a free inside the first minute.
Conor Hartley promptly responded for the Leinster champions but Kennedy added another free for Tipp before Brendan Martin gave them a 0-03 to 0-01 cushion after five minutes.
The Tipperary fullback line were well on top early on, high on confidence having only conceded 0-06 to Galway in the quarter-final, but as the half began to flow, so did the Kildare forward unit.
They lost their first round fixture in the Leinster championship to Louth, but kicked 3-16 in their sensational semi-final win over Dublin and relied on corner forward Ciaran Kelly to put four first half frees between the posts.
He missed two early efforts but remained composed and when he kicked his third and then fourth of the half the teams were level for the first time at 0-05 to 0-05 in the 26th minute.
Tipperary wing-forward Aidan Buckley had wasted a gilt-edged goal opportunity five minutes earlier and a Jimmy Hyland free gave Kildare the lead for the first time.
However Tynan oozed confidence in front of goal and his wonderful effort in the 29th minute left the sides level.
Moloney got his first yellow for a foul on Ethan O’Donohue just after the break, but two quick fire points from star man Kennedy gave Tipperary the initiative.
In the 40th minute Tipperary nearly goaled and it was Quirke who caused problems for the Kildare defence - Moloney sent in the high ball and Quirke latched onto it with his fist but it crashed back off the crossbar.
Kennedy hit his third of the half to put Tipperary 0-09 to 0-06 in front but Moloney’s second yellow, this time when he hauled down Matthew Kelly, let Kildare back into it.
Hyland slotted the subsequent free to reduce the margin and then Matthew Kelly, who is in his third year as a minor, sent over a class effort from the outside of his right boot to bring it back to the minimum.
Tipperary creaked momentarily but Buckley made up for his earlier miss with an important point and although Hartley hit back again it was all in vain as Quirke got the score he deserved to round off the win.
Tipperary: C Manton; T Fitzgerald, J Skehan, T Lowry; D Owens, L Fahy, E Moloney; J Kennedy (0-04, 0-01f, 0-01 ’45), T Nolan; A Buckley (0-01), A Tynan (0-03, 0-02f), C English; R Peters, B McGrath (0-01), B Martin (0-01).
Subs: S Quirke (0-01) for Peters (28 mins), J Bergin for English (45), M Irwin for Martin (51), M Kehoe for Buckley (55).
Kildare: D Campbell; R Slattery, M Joyce, D Lawlor; S Healy, S Ryan, G Burke; D Courtney, R Feely; C Hartley (0-02), E O’Donohue, B McLoughlin; C Kelly (0-04, 0-04f), M Kelly (0-01), J Hyland (0-02, 0-02f).
Subs: S Lawler for Healy (42 mins), E O’Neill for McLoughlin (49), R Bannon for Slattery (57), K O’Callaghan for O’Donohue (57), A Murphy for C Kelly (60).
Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan).
