Galway will face Wexford in the provincial final after claiming an impressive 3-13 to 1-17 victory over Kilkenny at Tullamore.

It's the first time that the Tribemen have contested this competition and they prevailed against the luckless holders tonight thanks to excellent goals from Evan Niland, Sean Bleahene and Cianan Fahy.

Niland's three-pointer had the winners ahead by two points at the break, 1-8 to 0-9. Indeed, Niland registered 1-5 for Tony Ward's men in the first half, while James Bergin raised five white flags for DJ Carey's charges before the turnaround.

Both sides started nervously and there were a series of wides at either end before Niland popped over a point from the left to open the scoring in the sixth minute. A long-range Bergin free into the wind had the Cats level on ten minutes but Niland calmly fired the westerners back in front three minutes later.

Bergin equalised with his second converted free and Galway goalkeeper Eanna Murphy executed a brave and painful save to deny Kilkenny wing forward Adrian Mullen before Colum Prendiville had the Noresiders ahead for the only time in the 17^th minute.

A minute later, the match exploded to life when Niland ran purposefully at the heart of the Kilkenny defence before blasting an unstoppable shot to the net. When Mullen replied, Niland (free) brought his and Galway's tally to 1-3.

Six minutes from the break, Fahy became the second Galway player to score but Mullen replied with his second on 25 minutes, 1-4 to 0-5. No.11s Brian Concannon and Conor Hennessy flashed over points within seconds of one another and Niland's fourth point left his goal between the teams only for Bergin to respond as the scores started to come thick and fast.

It was a one-point game when Bergin (free) notched his fourth point a minute from the break but Niland hit back by tapping over the softest of frees at the other end; Fahy pointed from distance deep into first-half injury time after Bergin converted another free, meaning the gap was two at the short whistle.

Kilkenny had every reason to feel aggrieved at the interval as they were inexplicably denied a clear free-in prior to Fahy's second point - Galway corner back Shane Bannon was booked for twice whipping across Bill Sheehan as he bore down on goal but no free was forthcoming.

Murphy again thwarted the unlucky Cats within seconds of the resumption and Kevin Cooney duly slotted at the other end to make it a three-point game. The second Galway goal arrived in the 35^th minute when Concannon's handpass sent Bleahene clear and the wing forward drilled a low shot to the net from close range - 2-9 to 0-9.

After Bergin pulled back a free, Cooney's goal effort was helped over the bar by Cats custodian Liam Dunphy as the gap stayed at six with 20 minutes remaining. Richie Leahy smacked over a superb Kilkenny score from distance after Niland swept over a free; Cooney replied with aplomb.

John Donnelly landed Kilkenny's twelfth point but it was soon a nine-point game when Fahy lashed the third Galway goal past Dunphy in the 47^th minute - a super finish to the top right corner on the run to make it 3-12 to 0-12.

Kilkenny crept closer with points from Bergin (free), Hennessy and Leahy but their luck deserted them on 54 minutes when Donnelly's blistering shot at goal bounced back into play off the woodwork. The ball was recycled to Leahy, who slotted their fourth unanswered point to leave five between them.

A stunning 59^th-minute Cooney point settled Galway's nerves and Murphy denied Sheehan at the death before Donnelly's desperate goal effort was deflected over for another consolation point. The losers kept pushing for a goal and they finally breached the Galway defence in the fifth of four minutes of injury time, when Donnelly poked the sliothar to the bottom left corner. The action went on for another 90 seconds but the Tribe held on for a two-point win and a place in the Leinster final.

As well as that date with the Model County on July 4th, Galway have also secured an All-Ireland semi-final place.

Galway - E Murphy; I O'Shea, F Burke, S Bannon; J Fitzpatrick, M Hughes, S Loftus; T Monaghan, J Grealish; S Bleahene (1-0), B Concannon (0-1), C Fahy (1-2); E Niland (1-6, 0-3f), J Canning, K Cooney (0-4). Subs: C Salmon for J Canning, C Caulfield for J Grealish, P Foley for S Bleahene, R Murphy for E Niland, A Greaney for F Burke.

Kilkenny - L Dunphy; M Cody, T Walsh, R Bergin; T Kenny, M Keoghan, S Murphy; E Delaney, R Leahy (0-3); C Prendiville (0-1), C Hennessy (0-2), A Mullen (0-2); B Sheehan, J Donnelly (1-2), J Bergin (0-7, 5f, 1'65). Subs: M Carey for R Bergin, M Kenny for E Delaney, S Carey for J Bergin.

Referee - A Devine.

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