A Leinster SHC semi-final of considerable novelty, inordinate pre-match interest and, for all but the closing stages, spellbinding entertainment. Ten minutes into the second half the All Ireland titleholders were wobbling. But champions know how to remain calm when cornered and Kilkenny hurled their way to a better place that eventually saw them win going away. Galway can take comfort from a performance that might have beaten any other team in the country. The back door remains open for them. It is the least they deserve on this showing.

By 8.30pm, three of the main subjects for discussion had been thoroughly addressed and answered. Would John McIntyre have Galway primed for the occasion? He did, handsomely. How physically ready was Joe Canning in view of the midweek doubts that had surrounded his participation? Very; he finished with 2-9 to his name. Enough said. And how significant would the loss of Noel Hickey – famously absent the last time Kilkenny lost a championship match, when conceding five goals to the same opposition in the 2005 All Ireland semi-final – prove to be? Plenty significant, though not sufficiently so to unseat the champions.

From the off, Galway got it right tactically with the corner-forwards staying out on the half-forward line, leaving space for Canning inside. The gambit paid off handsomely as early as the fifth minute. Fergal Moore delivered a nicely manicured diagonal ball from the right-half back position; Canning was out to it in front of JJ Delaney, turned his marker with ease, strode on and uncorked a low lefthanded shot that left PJ Ryan flailing.

Energised, the challengers continued to take the fight to their opponents. Any time Kilkenny managed to channel possession to one of their forwards he was tackled quickly – and by more than one defender. Aongus Callanan and Cyril Donnellan popped up deep in their own half to offer further assistance. Canning finished the half with five points from frees, proof of the extent to which the Kilkenny defenders were discomfited. But as the half wore on, too many of Galway's clearances out of defence became aimless, and John Tennyson – sitting deep to block off the space in front of Canning – grew in influence.

Eight minutes from the break the underdogs led by 1-7 to 0-5 and were well worth their advantage. Then guess what? That roof proceeded to fall in on them. Out of nothing, the McCarthy Cup holders conjured a goal. It was laboured and it was messy, with Michael Fennelly and Martin Comerford instrumental in working the ball into the danger area. Aidan Fogarty got the decisive overhead touch.

Eoin Larkin added a point. Moments later Kilkenny struck again, Richie Power cutting in from the left and feeding the hitherto anonymous Eddie Brennan who found the net from an acute angle to the right of the uprights. All very Kilkennyesque. Come the interval they led by 2-7 to 1-8 and had wind advantage to follow.

Galway started the second half as they'd begun the first. Canning crashed home a close-range free in the 39th minute and followed it with two points from frees. Noel Hickey's absence was becoming increasingly apparent – even more so in the 43rd minute when the Kilkenny full-back line went missing entirely and Niall Healy, at the second attempt, scrambled home the third goal. Galway 3-10 Kilkenny 2-8.

The next twist saw the inevitable comeback by Brian Cody's side. Shefflin hit three unanswered points, Fogarty tacked on another and Larkin levelled 12 minutes from time. Suddenly the narrative had turned to black and amber, and in waves; the old cat for the hard road. The now unplayable Larkin added three more, Derek Lyng announced his entrance with a point from distance, TJ Reid did likewise and Richie Murray announced his by promptly getting send off. Canning's 69th-minute free was Galway's first score in 24 minutes.

Once again the westerners had taken Kilkenny to the wire, or at any rate within a few strides of it. Once more they'd fallen slightly short. Against any other team…

Galway C Callanan; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, O Canning; F Moore, J Lee, A Cullinane; E Lynch, K Hynes; A Callanan (0-1), C Donnellan (0-1), A Smyth; D Hayes (0-1), J Canning (2-9, 1-8 frees, 0-1 65), N Healy (1-1) Subs D Tierney for Hynes, 31 mins; A Kerins for Smyth, 59 mins; R Murray for Tierney, 65 mins.

Kilkenny PJ Ryan; M Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, J Tennyson, J Dalton; M Fennelly, M Rice; H Shefflin (0-10, 0-4 frees, 0-1 65), M Comerford, E Larkin (0-5); E Brennan (1-0), R Power, A Fogarty (1-3) Subs D Lyng (0-1) for Fennelly, 46 mins; S Cummins for Kavanagh, 50 mins; R Hogan for Brennan, 61 mins; TJ Reid (0-1) for Comerford, 64 mins.

Referee B Kelly (Westmeath)