Goals from team captain Cillian Buckley, Michael Brennan and John Power gave Kilkenny a 3-9 to 0-10 cushion at half-time.

As Galway failed to raise their game in the second half, Richie Mulrooney's charges showed no mercy.

Ger Aylward, a fine prospect at full-forward, took his tally to 1-5 and Kevin Kelly completed the goal rush with a terrific finish, eight minutes from time.

Galway beat Kilkenny in last year’s final, taking the verdict by four points, and there was a clear sign that both sides were eager to show their best in this rematch when trading points in the opening minute.

On four occasions in the early stages, Galway opened up a lead courtesy of scores from Conor Cooney, free-taker Shane Moloney, Padraig Brehony and Albert Mullins.

However, Kilkenny were up to the task, answering back through Padraig Walsh, Thomas O’Hanrahan (0-2) and Kevin Kelly.

Kilkenny’s goal-scoring threat quickly became obvious, with their pace and clever build-up play leaving the Galway defence in trouble.

The first such incident arrived in the fourth minute when Galway goalkeeper Shane Kelly reacted well to stop a Michael Brennan, aided by a good hook from Paul Hoban.

In the same attack, Aylward stuck a chance wide but Kilkenny’s crisp touches and clinical finishing allowed them dominate the scoreboard coming up to half-time. Buckley drove forward and smashed a fine shot to the roof of the net in the ninth minute.

Their second goal arrived two minutes later, when corner forward Brennan jinked past Darragh Burke and gave Kelly little chance from close range. Galway were far from rattled, and by the 23rd minute, they were back within a single point – 2-5 to 0-10.

Moloney’s assured free-taking saw to that – he had five points to his name before an injury forced him off before half-time.

Galway’s centre-back and captain Daithi Burke also chipped in with a point during a confidence-boosting spell for the champions.

However, Kilkenny were in a class of their own before the break, with John Power, a brother of senior panellist Richie Power, helping himself to 1-1.

The wing forward made a surging run which cut the Galway rearguard wide open and launched a composed first-time finish to the bottom left corner of the net.

Kilkenny’s advantage was bolstered by points from Padraig Walsh, Aylward, Buckley and Walsh again as they put nine points between themselves and Mattie Murphy’s side.

There was no sense of Galway letting their heads drop, but leaking 1-6 without reply in the opening 13 minutes of the second half must have left them deflated.

Owen McGrath started the scoring with a free, and then when Galway stop Kelly failed to deal with a high delivery from Buckley, Aylward pounced to block Kelly’s attempted clearance straight into the empty net.

Padraig Walsh, whose brother Tommy is a vital cog in the Kilkenny senior side, Power, O’Hanrahan, Aylward and Kelly tagged on further points to really put the result beyond any doubt.

Credit to Galway full-back Darragh Burke, he did very well to prevent Aylward from collecting Kilkenny’s fifth goal, blocking bravely and winning a relieving free.

The westerners’ bench also added some much-needed pace and directness to their attack.

Substitute Cathal O’Brien opened their second half account in the 44th minute, and Cooney and Keelan Cullinane, another new man in, cancelled out efforts from Aylward and Flynn.

In the 52nd minute, midfielder Cooney went for goal from a close range but after his shot was saved and cleared, Kilkenny instigated an immediate counter attack that ended with the roaming Kelly cracking an inch-perfect shot to the far right corner of the net.

Cooney tried his luck again from a free, only to see his effort skim over the crossbar.

Ominously, Kilkenny were not finished yet. Tuning up for a final against either Dublin or Clare, McGrath (free) and the powerful Aylward (0-2) closed out the scoring of a disappointingly one-sided encounter.

Scorers:

Kilkenny: G Aylward 1-5, J Power (0-1f), K Kelly 1-2 each, K Buckley 1-1, P Walsh 0-4, M Brennan 1-0, T O’Hanrahan 0-3, O McGrath 0-2 (0-2f)

Galway: S Moloney 0-5 (0-4f), C Cooney 0-3 (2f), J Flynn 0-2, P Brehony, A Mullins, Daithi Burke, C O’Brien, K Cullinane 0-1 each

KILKENNY: D Walsh; J Corcoran, W Phelan, B Kennedy; P O'Carroll, L Harney, O McGrath; K Kelly, O Walsh; J Power, P Walsh, C Buckley (capt); M Brennan, G Aylward, T O'Hanrahan.

Subs used: P Buggy for Buckley (13-14 mins, blood sub), P Buggy for Brennan, R Reid for O’Hanrahan (both 52), C O’Neill for Kennedy (53), C O’Shea for O Walsh (57).

GALWAY: S Kelly; C Diviney, Darragh Burke, M Keating; P Hoban, Daithi Burke (capt), M Horan; P Brehony, C Cooney; A Mullins, J Glynn, J Flynn; N Keary, T Moran, S Moloney.

Subs used: B Lane for Glynn (27 mins), G O’Donoghue for Moloney (30), S Morrissey for Hoban (half-time), K Cullinane for Moran (41), C O’Brien for Keary (42).

Referee: David Copps (Cork).