Kilkenny are Leinster hurling champions for the first time in four years after a momentous clash with Galway at Croke Park tonight.
The Cats found themselves five points adrift with 15 minutes of regulation time remaining and in danger of losing a third provincial decider in a row for the first time since 1921.
But the wily Brian Cody threw substitute Richie Hogan into the fray in the 45th minute for his first appearance at Headquarters since his red card in last year's All-Ireland final defeat to Limerick and the veteran helped turn the tide.
Hogan took advantage of a mix-up in the Galway defence in the 57th minute to score a vital goal and, just two minutes later, TJ Reid buried a second goal after jinking past Joseph Cooney and finding the top corner.
Reid's effort restored parity but Kilkenny found themselves with it all to do as Galway edged ahead again, and it took a vital save by Eoin Murphy to deny Jason Flynn a goal to propel the Tribesmen even further ahead.
However the Cats roared back. Hogan should have scored a third goal in the 66th minute when he ghosted in behind and onto Reid's pass, only to fire over to reduce Galway's lead to one.
Cody's charges remained composed and finished the stronger - points from Conor Browne and Martin Keoghan edged them ahead.
And fittingly it was Hogan who delivered the final score, turning away from Gearoid McInterney to score and propel the Cats straight into another All-Ireland semi-final, with Galway having to take a longer route if they're to reach that destination.
Kilkenny: E Murphy; C Delaney, H Lawlor, T Walsh; C Buckley, P Walsh, C Fogarty (R Reid 56); R Leahy (A Murphy 61), C Browne; J Donnelly, M Keoghan, TJ Reid; W Walsh (R Hogan 45), E Cody (N Brassil 61), C Fennelly (L Blanchfield 52).
Galway: É Murphy; S Loftus (A Harte ht), Daithi Burke, S Cooney (S Linnane 71); F Burke, G McInerney, J Cooney; P Mannion, J Coen (A Tuohy 69); C Cooney (David Burke 59), C Mannion, J Canning; C Whelan, N Burke (J Flynn 40), B Concannon.
