Tipperary set up heavyweight final clash with Kilkenny by taking a two-point half-time lead and managed to keep that advantage throughout a hard-fought second half.

Galway will be disappointed though as thanks to a Niall Healy goal, they fought back to led by four points before Corbett netted at the other end and the Premier county pulled through.

Both sides struggled during a scrappy and unappealing first 35 minutes. Galway ace Joe Canning was shackled well by the Tipperary defence and his influence was kept to a minimum.

Two early points from Corbett helped Tipp into a 0-3 to 0-2 lead but the Thurles man missed out on a goal when he fired into the side-netting.

Galway goalkeeper Colm Callanan rallied his team with a monster point from a free but his defenders were struggling to keep tabs on Corbett and Callinan, who knocked over his opening point just minutes later.

There was obvious tension with both sides looking to reach the final and tempers flared when Canning's team-mates took exception to a big shoulder challenge on the Portumna youngster.

For their parts in the fracas, Tipperary full-back Paul Curran and Galway centrefielder Eoin Lynch were banished to the sidelines on yellow cards.

Encouragingly for Galway though, Lynch's replacement Kevin Hynes collected two quick points as the Tribesmen cut the gap to 0-8 to 0-6 by the half-time whistle.

Inspired by manager John McIntyre's half-time words, the home side put together a rousing spell of play on the resumption. Canning split the posts with a '65' and then Healy rippled the net on 42 minutes.

The goal was set up by Niall Hayes who danced through the Tipp defence and his snap shot was partially blocked by Darren Gleeson, Healy pounced to fire home the loose ball.

But it was a case of anything you can do, I can do better. Tipp got a stranghold on midfield and from a good platform of possession, Corbett struck a fine goal and three Callinan points in quick succession had the visitors 1-13 to 1-12 ahead.

Callinan, one of the stars of last year's Championship, boosted his tally to 0-11. Tipp lost Eamonn Buckley to a red card for an off-the-ball clash with Canning.

But despite Galway's late attempts at engineering a late goal, all they could manage was a sixth and final point from Canning, a player whom they can be over reliant on at times.