Kilkenny advanced to the All-Ireland hurling final with a massive victory over fancied Tipperary by eighteen points on a score of 4-24 to 1-15.

Kilkenny will now play Galway in the final on September 9th and will be contesting their seventh final in succession.

Kilkenny and Tipp traded blows in a superb first half which saw Tipperary edge ahead by the half time whistle and lead by one point 1-9 to 1-8.

But the floodgates opened for Kilkenny in the second half as they tore through a porous Tipperary defence and added three goals.and sixteen points to their total.

Kilkenny will now be highly fancied for the final although Galway beat them comfortably in the Leinster final in one of the greatest upsets in recent times. Galway then went on to beat Cork in their semi final.

Afterwards Kilkenny coach Brian Cody was quick to praise the hunger of his players.

“Hurling is what  they do,” said Cody  “They live their lives, they work and they have families but hurling is a huge part of what they do. Hurling is a big part of their lives. It’s something that gives them a massive lift. It’s an opportunity to play for your county and there’s a great buzz in doing it.

“But they’re acutely aware that it doesn’t last forever. It’s a fabulous thing to be involved in. You try to postpone the day you can’t do it again.

“You go out to try and play as best as you can. Some days it happens for you like it did today and some days it doesn’t like it did against Galway. We’re talking about a big win for us today but Galway had a big win against us in the Leinster final. That’s what happens in sport.”