Henry Sheflin made the difference for Kilkenny scoring 1-13 as they ran out 2-21 to 1-16 winners over Clare to set up a mouth-watering final against Cork.
Kilkenny got off to a flying start as Sheflin had the ball in the back of the Clare in the second minute and the Leinster champions had 1-02 up on the board before the Banner could respond.
Clare got back into it quickly and as the half progressed their forwards started to cut through the Kilkenny defence with ease.
However a couple of missed goal opportunities and a great save from James McGarry in the Kilkenny goal meant the sides went in level at 1-10 apiece.
The turning point in the game came in the 47th minute when David Hoey conceded a penalty to Kilkenny. But off the ball incidents following that saw Frank Lohan and Eddie Brennan also receiving cards and the referee instead restarted with a drop ball.
The Clare defence were caught ball watching and Kilkenny sub capitalised to score a fine goal to put his side 2-14 to 1-12 in front.
Tempers were rising at this stage but Kilkenny's wastefulness in front of goal - they had clocked up 15 wides after 52 minutes - looked like it might come back to haunt them.
Clare got to within a point - 2-14 to 1-16 but two unanswered points, the first from the ubiquitous Sheflin, restored the one goal lead for Kilkenny.
With four minutes to go Clare conceded another penalty but Frank Lohan escaped any censure from the referee. Kilkenny were happy to let the clock run down and Sheflin played it save by driving the sliothar over.
Minutes later Lohan was not so lucky to escape the referees notice and got his marching orders for a second yellow.
With the pressure off and Clare down to 14, the Kilkenny forwards knocked over points with ease to put some gloss on the scoreline of what had been a tight game.