The Kilkenny intermediate hurlers secured their place in the All-Ireland final with a thrilling extra-time victory over Galway at Tullamore on Saturday. Kilkenny....5-14 Galway....3-12 It was a case of déjà vu for the Cats, who also needed extra-time to see off Dublin in the Leinster final seven days previous. Such an outcome appeared highly unlikely after Galway stormed into a 1-4 to 0-1 lead by the end of the first quarter, with Eamon Hyland getting the goal. Kilkenny replied with a Noel Doherty goal, but a similar score from Noel Kenny saw the Tribesmen go into the break leading by 2-6 to 1-5. Hyland's second major within seconds of the restart put Galway back in the driving seat, but a hat-trick of goals from Paddy Hogan in an incredible 12-minute spell put the Cats ahead with three minutes remaining. However, a Niall Carr free saw Galway force the game into extra-time, 4-8 to 3-11. The additional 20 minutes were dominated by the fitter and hungrier Cats, who wrapped up the win with a fourth goal from the outstanding Hogan. Kilkenny - L Tierney; M Phelan, K Joyce 0-1, J Cahill; N Walsh, C Phelan, S Prendergast; P Hartley, P Lonergan; B Beckett, P Cleere 0-1, P Hogan 4-4; C Dunne, M Grace 0-3, N Doherty 1-1. Subs - E Heneberry 0-4 for Dunne, D Brennan for Tierney, D Prendergast for Cahill, A Healy for Beckett, J Nolan for Doherty. Galway - J Grealish; D Dunne, R Whyte, B Costelloe; P Flynn, A Keary, E Joyce; D McEvoy 0-1, N Carr 0-6; M Kelly 0-1, R McGauran, K Huban 0-1; T Flannery 0-2, E Hyland 2-1, N Kenny 1-0. Subs - B Lawless for Kelly, B Lucas for Kenny, N Qualter for Huban, G McInerney for Hyland. Ref - A Stapleton (Laois) Tweet

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