Half-back Padraig Walsh, brother of Tommy picked up the Man of the Match award, with Brian Kennedy also excellent throughout the second half.

"They are younger lads but it's not as if they are too young for inter-county hurling," Cody said.

"They have had a nice bit of experience during the league and they showed up very well today in fairness to them.

"That's why they are there really."

Galway led by 0-11 to 0-6 at half-time, but Kilkenny bounced back after the restart.

Cody was happy with the hunger shown by his side.

"You keep playing and you keep trying to create chances. We started the second half well and we cut into the lead a bit and we got our noses in front," he said.

"We were still fighting until the very end. If they had got a goal from a free near the end it would have left a point in it and who knows what would have happened then when the puck-out was taken.

"We were five points down at half-time and we came back into it strongly and won the game and that's what we wanted to do."

Cody is delighted to be back in a final, but already has one eye on a Championship Summer.

"The final is there now, but obviously the years hurling evolves around the Championship. No ball has been struck in the Championship yet and it's completely up for grabs.

"Panel strength is crucial, that's for certain. Whatever team gets through the Championship is going to have to resort to having a very strong panel.

"That's what we want to be able to do as well."