Cats hit new heights as Tipp fall away under fierce onslaught

Kilkenny 3-18 Tipperary 0-15

It merely prolonged the agony for a Tipperary side which had outplayed the All-Ireland champions for much of the first half except that, fatally, they wasted a succession of good scoring chances.

Once Kilkenny finally gained the initiative through the first of their three goals in the 44th minute, they moved up to a different level.