Kilkenny gained revenge on Galway for defeat in last year's Erin All-Ireland U-21 hurling final with a class-laden 1-24 to 2-12 triumph in tonight's semi-final in Tullamore.
Despite a 2-04 tally from minor star Joe Canning, who was sprung from the Galway bench, the Leinster champions proved too hot to handle with James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick (0-08), TJ Reid (0-05) and Richie Power (1-01) all on song.
Power's 14th-minute goal pushed the Cats into a 1-07 to 0-02 lead, but substitute Canning re-directed a 25th-minute free, which dropped in towards the Kilkenny square, past Liam Tierney to cut the gap to 1-12 to 1-05 at the break.
Five minutes into the second half, Canning nabbed his second – yet Kilkenny never trailed.
Fans of the black and amber, including watching senior boss Brian Cody, had plenty to get their teeth into in the opening quarter-hour as their side went eight points clear.
Fitzpatrick flung over four placed balls, Austin Murphy was also on target while Power's goal, which was created by a powerful solo run by Reid, came after two Paddy Hogan points.
Galway were playing in fits and starts, and while Kerrill Wade (two placed balls) and Andrew Keary, who flighted over a stunning sideline cut, impressed, it was not until Canning was called into the fray in the 22nd-minute that the champions cut the mustard.
The Portumna teenager batted home his goal to make an immediate impact and added a point from far out on the left wing to raise lusty cheers from the Galway faithful.
Canning’s every touch seemed to generate an electricity around O’Connor Park, but Kilkenny were content to keep their hurling economical, taking their points when the chances arrived and with the minimum of fuss.
Canning's left-sided point cut the deficit to three points, yet the Cats raced up the other end to crack over three successive scores – Fitzpatrick ('65'), Power and Reid all raised late white flags – to end the opening half on a high.
It was a case of being in the right place at the right time when Canning lurched onto a breaking ball and sent his second goal spiralling past the dive of Tierney – Galway were back to being four behind at 1-13 to 2-06.
That was the Tribesmen’s chance – another point and Kilkenny might have been rattled. Defiantly, Fitzpatrick again slowed down the pace with two frees, full-forward Maurice Nolan also opened his account.
For the closing 20 minutes, Adrian Finan's Kilkenny outfit out-scored Galway by 0-08 to 0-06 to ease into the 10 September final, where they will face Munster champions Tipperary.
Galway never gave up hope of a comeback – Canning sent over a sizzling sideline cut, and Finian Coone, with little space to work in, also nabbed a notable point – yet Kilkenny succeeded in bettering their finish to the first half as they struck over six of the game's final seven points.
The Cats' rapid-fire salute was crowned with three scores in the closing three minutes.
Murphy, Reid and substitute Alan Healy all bisected the posts to confirm an excellent win.
Galway: A Ryan; T Linane, P Loughnane, P Holland; A Keary (0-01 (0-01 sl), J Lee, G Mahon; N Callanan, D Kelly; C Donlon, F Coone (0-01), S Glynn; D Reilly (0-01), N Healy (0-01 (0-01f)), K Wade (0-03 (0-02f, 0-01 '65')).
Subs used: J Canning (2-04 (0-01f, 0-01 sl)) for Glynn (22 mins), K Hynes for Callanan (half-time), C Kavanagh (0-01) for Donlon (50).
Kilkenny: L Tierney; K Joyce, D Cody, S Cummins; P Hartley, J Dalton, D Fogarty; J Fitzpatrick (0-08 (0-05f, 0-03 '65')), M Fennelly (0-01); TJ Reid (0-05), A Murphy (0-02), P Hogan (0-04 (0-01 sl)); R Power (1-01), M Nolan (0-01), D McCormack.
Subs used: A Healy (0-02) for McCormack (37 mins), E O'Donoghue for Nolan (56).
Referee: Michael Wadding (Waterford).
