Tribesmen triumph in hurling classic

Galway 5-18 Kilkenny 4-18

Galway booked their place in the All-Ireland SHC Final today but not without first contributing to one of the most rip-roaring hurling extravaganzas seen in Croke Park for many years.

In total nine goals and 36 points were scored but there were still just three points between the Tribesmen and hot favourites Kilkenny when the final whistle blew.

Galway were also forced to hold on for the last few minutes as Kilkenny pressed for an equalising goal right to the final whistle.

It had started according to script for Kilkenny though, with Eddie Brennan notching 1-2 in the opening 10 minutes to see the Leinster champions 1-3 to 0-2 ahead.

A rash of frees were converted by Ger Farragher to keep Galway in the hunt. Two goals from the prolific corner forward late in the half then thrust Galway 2-9 to 1-5 ahead.

But some sloppy defending allowed first Henry Shefflin and then John Hoyne to goal so Kilkenny had just a three-point deficit to make up at the break, 3-5 to 2-11.

Galway struggled to put space between themselves and Kilkenny for most of the second half.

Shefflin, , Eoin Larkin, Martin Comerford and Brennan all scored points to put the sides level by the 43rd minute, 3-9 to 2-12.

The goalscoring wasn't over yet and full forward Niall Healy scored a hat-trick for the Tribesmen over the next 13 minutes to build an 11-point lead, 5-17 to 3-12.

Kilkenny clawed their way back with Eddie Brennan getting a vital goal. The equaliser remained elusive, however, and so Galway will play Cork in the All-Ireland Final on September 11.