Two-goal hero Richie Hogan helped Kilkenny edge out reigning All-Ireland Champions Galway in a competitive encounter at a rain-sodden Semple Stadium in Thurles.
Hogan was in superb form taking the man-of-the-match award as a hungrier Kilkenny side, curbed a late Galway rally.
Galway, making their debut in the 2008 Championship struggled to settle early on as the Cats began this game in blistering fashion leading by 0-04 to 0-00 after 13 minutes, with TJ Reid, Hogan (2) and Colin Fennelly all taking points.
However, the Connacht standard-bearers suddenly found their composure as midfielder Owen Forde took a fine point midway through the opening half to get the Tribesmen off the mark.
Although scores from Paddy Hogan and TJ Reid helped open up a five-point lead for Kilkenny, with ten minutes remaining in the opening half, Galway battled hard to equalise before the interval.
The westerners showed greater hunger in the closing stages of the half, with Forde adding his second point, while Joe Canning converted a superb score from a sideline cut just inside the 45-metre line to narrow the gap to a point by the 25th minute.
Tribesman boss Vincent Mullins certainly was not afraid to make changes and with Joe Canning now operating on the half-forward line, these positional switches certainly reaped dividends.
Galway were firmly dominant at this stage, and they were rewarded for their efforts with a Conor Kavanagh 28th minute goal, following a well placed Canning pass, as the sides entered the interval level at 1-04 to 0-07.
Galway continued to pile on the pressure after the restart and outscored Kilkenny by four points to three inside the opening six minutes of the second half, as both sides sprung to life on the restart.
The first real goal chance of the second half fell to first half substitute Syl Óg Lianne but he was unfortunate to have his effort cleared, as Galway continued to go in search of scores.
Galway edged the game by 1-08 to 0-10 in the 36th minute, following a sixth Canning point, but once Richie Hogan converted a brace inside a minute there was only one leader in this game.
Hogan quickly crashed home his first goal after 40 minutes, following a Matthew Ruth pass, and despite the best efforts of the likes of Canning and Kavanagh for Galway, the Cats couldn't be kept at bay.
Trailing by four points Canning had a late chance as the game entered injury-time but his blistering goal chance was held out for a 65-metre free, as the Tribesmen kept on the pressure.
However, Kilkenny's withstood any late pressure thrown at them by Galway, to book a spot in their fifth final in six years, where they will face Munster champions Tipperary next month.
KILKENNY: C McGrath; P Murphy, K Joyce, E O'Shea, N Prendergast, P Hogan (0-1), L Ryan; J Dowling, N Walsh; C Fennelly (0-4), N Cleere, TJ Reid (0-3); M Ruth, J Mulhall (0-1), R Hogan (2-5, 1f).
GALWAY: J Skehill; M McMahon, C O'Donovan, P Callanan; A Keary, K Kilkenny, A Leech; O Forde (0-2), A Harte; S Glynn (0-1), K Keehan, J Greene (0-1), C Kavanagh (1-1), J Canning (0-8, 3f, 2 sl), E Concannon. Subs: S Óg Lianne for Concannon (26); N Lynch for Keegan (57).
REFEREE: Michael Wadding (Waterford)
