Business as usual for Kilkenny as they battle to their 71st Leinster title, beating Galway by 1-26 to 0-22 victory at Croke Park.

Victory sees Brian Cody mark his 18^th year at the helm with another three-in-a-row of Bob O'Keefe Cups as well as a place in the All-Ireland semi-fiinals, while the Tribesmen get a nice consolation as they advance to an All-Ireland quarter-final.

Playing in his first Leinster final, Jonjo Farrell bagged 1-4, while Richie Hogan (0-5) was also a central figure after being introduced as a second-half substitute. TJ Reid was TJ Reid (0-10).

The Cats had to show their claws. A great display of point-taking from full forward Cathal Mannion, who was on target four times in the first half, saw the Connacht county lead by 0-13 to 0-10 at the break.

Sarsfields clubman Joseph Cooney spooned over the opening point on 60 seconds and Farrell had the holders level two minute later. Captain Lester Ryan's excellent effort was ruled out by Hawk-Eye before Mannion edged the westerners back in front in the seventh minute. Joe Canning's '65' sailed to the right and wide and Walter Walsh equalised.

The winners were almost in for a goal but Colin Fennelly batted his shot inches wide at the Hill 16 end in the tenth minute before Conor Whelan clipped over a terrific Tribe point from the left wing followed by another from the right. But Reid (free) and Walsh had the sides level for the third time after 14 minutes.

Conor Fogarty whipped over a lovely point as the Cats led for the first time and All Star goalkeeper Colm Callanan denied Ryan in between strikes from Mannion and Reid ('65'). Canning was happy enough to take his point to tie the scores up for the fifth time in the 20^th minute, 0-6 each.

A brilliant point from midfield powerhouse Davy Glennon followed by a thumping Canning free from inside his own half and a third Mannion point propelled the Tribesmen into a 0-9 to 0-6 lead with seven minutes left before the break.

Kilkenny's Lester Ryan lifts the trophy. ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne.

Cooney extended the gap in the 30^th minute and a soft free presented Reid with the Noresiders' first score in 13 minutes but Canning lofted over another stunning free in response three minutes from the break. Within 60 seconds, Mannion had registered his fourth.

The Black & Amber mustered injury-time points from Reid (two frees) and Farrell, with Canning lofting over a free in between to leave three in it at the short whistle, just like last year's All-Ireland final...

Half-time substitute Hogan pointed within 20 seconds of the restart and by the time he notched his second point 16 minutes later the Black & Amber led by two, 1-15 to 0-16. Farrell's 44^th-minute goal - when his tame shot flew under Callanan - had tied the scores up, 1-13 to 0-16, and Reid's free edged the holders back ahead.

Farrell and Hogan - with his third - stretched the gap to four but Galway hit back through Mannion after Cillian Buckley's goal-line clearance denied the men in maroon a three-pointer. Galway kept going and points from Canning (free) and Whelan had them back within the minimum as we went into the fourth quarter.

(Canning (free), Fogarty, Reid (free) and Conor Cooney (2) were the other scorers prior to Farrell's goal.)

Michael Fennelly and Reid (free) ensured that the Cats still led by a goal with 15 minutes left, 1-19 to 0-19. Farrell took his tally to 1-3 on the hour and added another before Hogan arced over the score that left six between the sides with as many minutes left. Reid replied to Andy Smith's score with an equally-classy strike followed by a converted free - his tenth score of the game arriving on the stroke of 70 minutes.

Donning No.20, Hogan flicked over a superb injury-time point on the run from the left and Eoin Murphy denied Canning a consolation goal before Cooney and Fogarty traded points and Cyril Donnellan notched the last score for the losers in the fourth added minute.

Kilkenny - E Murphy; P Murphy, J Holden, R Lennon; P Walsh, K Joyce, C Buckley; C Fogarty (0-3), M Fennelly (0-1); W Walsh (0-2), C Fennelly, L Ryan; J Farrell (1-4), TJ Reid (0-10, 7f, 1'65), E Larkin. Subs: R Hogan (0-5) for E Larkin, J Power (0-1) for C Fennelly.

Galway - C Callanan; P Mannion, Daithi Burke, J Coen; G McInerney, J Hanbury, A Harte; David Burke, D Glennon (0-1); N Burke, J Cooney (0-2), C Cooney (0-3); C Whelan (0-3), J Canning (0-6f), C Mannion (0-5). Subs: C Donnellan (0-1) for J Cooney, F Moore for J Coen, J Flynn for N Burke, A Smith (0-1) for D Glennon, P Killeen for J Hanbury.

Referee - F Horgan.

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