It finished 2-14 to 2-11 in favour of Michael Ryan's side at Nowlan Park in Kilkenny last night.
Tipperary led for most of the opening quarter of the match, but Kilkenny managed to pull level at 5 points apiece after 23 minutes.
Tipp regained the initiative just three minutes later, thanks to a goal from Ruari Gleeson. However, Kilkenny grabbed their opening goal on the stroke of half-time through Jonjo Farrell, leaving Tipperary with the most slender of margins (1-07 to 1-06) at the break.
The first six minutes of the second-half were scoreless, but Tipperary then grabbed a point and goal through Timmy Hammersley and Ruari Gleeson.
By the final quarter Tipperary were ahead by six points, but another goal from Jonjo Farrell left the gap at just two points.
However, Ruari Gleeson scored an insurance point to see Tipperary successfully defend their title.
