Croke Park, traditionally the showpiece window for Tipperary's stars of the future to display their well-honed skills, is suddenly becoming a graveyard for their youths.
Kilkenny minors got the All-Ireland double off the mark with a supreme display, once they rid themselves of early jitters over the opening 15 minutes.
All the rights on artistry seemed to belong to Tipperary in the opening stages, but, thereafter, the real skills flowed off Kilkenny hurleys with their fluency leaving the Munster champions a sorry sight to behold.
Tipperary had hoped to put the insulting hammering they received at the hands of Galway at the semi-final stage last year behind them, but this was not to materialise once Kilkenny got into stride and the Tipperary defence was proven to be less assured after a good start.
"We are gutted and hugely disappointed by the manner of defeat," Tipperary manager Paddy McCormack admitted. "We were well in the game up to Kilkenny's first goal."
That crucial score came after 25 minutes and one would been excused for believing that DJ Carey created the move.
The dazzling DJ-like run for over 60 metres was put in by Shane Coonan.
Nearing goal, Coonan unselfishly passed to Eoin Reid to his left and the Ballyhale youth sent a searing shot past Tipperary's goalkeeper and captain Patrick McCormack.
The score put Kilkenny in front (1-6 to 0-6) for the first time, after 25 minutes of nip and tuck point scoring that saw the sides on level terms on four occasions, with Tipperary proving the pace-makers on the board.
"Our concentration seemed to slip after that score and the second Kilkenny goal came when we were disheartened," rued McCormack.
Nobody in the Tipperary camp was prepared to lay any blame for defeat on the John Boland High Court controversy prior to the game.
"We never let the controversy in the week of the match distract us. We were always fully focused," McCormack insisted.
Boland, although not even listed among the substitutes, started the game at right half back with Brendan O'Sullivan moving to the bench. Boland was replaced by Diarmuid Corcoran in the closing stages when Tipperary were fighting a lost cause.
PJ Delaney had an influential game at centre back for Kilkenny, display that was matched for a long time by Tipperary corner back Martin Treacy.
It was unfortunate for Treacy and Tipperary that Alan Healy for once scored a rare success over the corner back 10 minutes into the second half and the clinching goal number three resulted.
Healy placed James Fitzpatrick with a deft pass and the Ballyhale youth shot to the net from close range.
Any confidence the Tipperary youths started with was truly drained from them at this stage
With Kilkenny's midfielders Michael Rice and Stephen Maher ruling in midfield, all six of Kilkenny's original attacking line-up scored with the exception of Willie O'Dwyer.
The sure-fire power of the Kilkenny forwards and the deadly accuracy of Richie Power with the deal ball - he slotted seven points off frees - was something that the Tipperary camp had expected for themselves.
Kilkenny's second goal three minutes from half-time showed how well their forwards were able to react.
Eoin Reid's lob set up a one-on-one battle for possession between Tipperary's goalkeeper Patrick McCormack and James Fitzpatrick, who was quick to respond and make best use of McCormack's indecisive approach.
This score set Kilkenny up for a 2-6 to 0-6 interval advantage.
Alarm bells followed for the losers when Ryan lobbed a free in search of a goal even though the first half hadn't run its course.
McCormack conceded: "We have no excuses, Kilkenny were brilliant, they took their chances, something you must do in an All-Ireland.
"They were particularly good on the break in the second half and we just didn't seem to rise to the challenge."
KILKENNY: C Grant; P Holden, J Tennyson, D Prendergast; K Nolan, P J Delaney, C Hoyne; M Rice (0-1), S Maher; R Power (0-7 frees), W O'Dwyer, S Coonan (0-2); J Fitzpatrick (2-2), E Reid (1-1), A Healy (0-2). Subs: R Dowling for O'Dwyer (54 mins); P Kennedy for PJ Delaney (56); S Cadogan for Prendergast (59).
TIPPERARY: P McCormack; M Treacy, D Bourke, M Bergin; J Boland, D Morrissey (1-0), D Kennedy; W Cully, C O'Mahoney; P Shortt, F Devanney (0-2), W Ryan (0-4 two free); E Sweeney, T Scroope (0-1), T Ivors. Subs: D Sheppard for Sweeney (35 mins); B O'Sullivan for Cully (45); D Corcoran for Boland (50); T Fitzgerald for Ivors (42); P Ryan for Morrissey (59).
Referee: D Kirwan (Cork).
