TJ Reid inspired Kilkenny to an impressive 3-19 to 1-17 semi-final replay victory over Galway at Tullamore.

The result means the Noresiders advance to face holders Dublin in the provincial decider on Sunday week while the westerners must travel to Thurles for a do-or-die Qualifier against Tipperary a day earlier.

With 17,059 in attendance, Reid lit up the match with a stunning return of 2-11.

After a blistering opening five minutes, the first half materialised into a shoot-out between free-takers Reid and Conor Cooney, with the former hitting 1-9 before the break. The Cats took a 1-11 to 1-9 advantage into the interval.

The match picked up where last week's thrilling draw had finished off as the sides traded 1-1 apiece inside those opening five minutes: Reid opened the scoring with a point which was cancelled out by David Burke. Reid then benefited from great work by Paul Murphy to hit the net but Jason Flynn netted almost immediately at the other end.

Cooney pointed the Tribesmen ahead from a free and Iarla Tannian added another point. Kilkenny lost goalkeeper Eoin Murphy to a knock picked up as Galway got their goal - David Herity replaced him.

Flynn made it a three-point game but Reid - Kilkenny's only scorer in the first 15 minutes - replied with three successive points: 1-4 each.

Padraig Walsh and Reid (free) added more points for Brian Cody's men, who had landed five scores on the trot. It was soon six without reply as Reid's sixth pointed free made it 1-7 to 1-4. When Cooney responded with a Galway free, Reid despatched two more at the other end!

Five points separated the teams after Richie Hogan's screamer but Andrew Smith and Cooney (2) reduced the gap before that man Reid contributed his ninth score of the first half.

A Cooney pointed free closed the first-half scoring; a Reid free in the 38th minute opened the second-half scoring.

Aidan Fogarty got in on the scoring act and points from brothers Padraig and Tommy Walsh made it 1-15 to 1-9.

Cooney (2) and Joe Canning - from a sideline cut - pointed to halve the differential but the Black & Amber accelerated away when Fogarty pulled on a breaking ball to hit the net and Reid followed up with a point from play.

A Hogan finish left eight in it, 2-17 to 1-12, but the Tribe replied with three consecutive points from Cooney - his eighth, ninth and tenth.

Padraig Walsh's third point steadied the Cats and Cooney pointed two more Galway frees to leave four between them with time almost up.

Any lingering hopes of another dramatic Galway revival were put to bed when Reid nipped in for his second goal in injury time to put the match to bed.

Eoin Larkin clipped over the last score as Kilkenny booked their place in the 2014 Leinster SHC final.

Kilkenny - E Murphy; P Murphy, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell; J Holden, B Hogan, C Buckley; R Hogan (0-2), C Fogarty; T Walsh (0-1), P Walsh (0-3), TJ Reid (2-11, 0-10f); C Fennelly, A Fogarty (1-1), E Larkin (0-1). Subs: J Herity for E Murphy, J Power for C Fennelly, L Ryan for C Fogarty, H Shefflin for T Walsh, W Walsh for A Fogarty.

Galway - C Callanan; F Moore, R Burke, D Collins; P Killeen, Daithí Burke, I Tannian (0-1); A Smith (0-1), David Burke (0-1); J Cooney, J Canning (0-1sl), C Cooney (0-12, 8f, 1'65); J Flynn (1-1), N Burke, J Glynn. Subs: D Hayes for P Killeen, J Coen for N Burke, A Harte for J Cooney, P Brehony for A Smith, C Mannion for David Burke.

Referee - J Owens. Tweet

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