Kerry made it third time lucky at Croke Park by bravely overcoming back-to-back TG4 All-Ireland ladies senior final defeatsto land the county's first crown since 1993.
An outstanding individual display by the experienced Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, a thrilling cameo from substitute Hannah O'Donoghue, who contributed 1-02, and the brilliance of full-back Kayleigh Cronin, who was named player of the match, all combined to propel Kerry to a landmark 12-point win.
The Munster champions had strong performers all around the field with Emma Dineen among those with 1-02, while defender Aoife Dillane hammered the first nail in Galway's coffin with Kerry's opening goal.
There was heartache for Kerry only a few months ago when they lost the Division 1 league final to Armagh but they have bounced back superbly, regaining the Munster title and now taking their place at the summit of the championship.
Another huge reward for Kerry is their move, ahead of Cork, to the top of the all-time roll of honour with their 12th title.
But it's desolation for the Tribeswomen who were chasing a second title and their first since 2004, but who ultimately succumbed to a repeat of their 2019 final loss.
It was Dublin's Hannah Tyrrell that did all the damage last year, memorably shooting eight points in the first-half alone to leave Kerry staring down back-to-back final defeats on that occasion.
Ultra experienced Ni Mhuircheartaigh, perhaps inspired by that individual feat of genius 12 months ago, stood up this time as the dominant figure for Kerry initially with five of her overall six points coming in the opening half.
Dineen, like in the semi-final defeat of Armagh, was terrific again in a creative capacity, as was 2023 captain Síofra O'Shea who provided a particularly sumptuous kick-pass that led to a converted free in the 22nd minute.
But it was Ní Mhuircheartaigh that represented the sharpented point of Kerry's attack early on, kicking three first-half points from frees and two more from play, one off either foot.
Ní Mhuircheartaigh was tracked by Galway corner-back Maryanne Jordan, until Eimile Gavin came on in the third quarter, while Dineen had Sarah Lynch for company and Danielle O'Leary was marked by Kate Geraghty.
At the other end, Olivia Divilly lined out in the full-forward line for Galway, but the Kilkerrin-Clonberne talent soon reverted to the half-forward line and was picked up by Kerry's Aishling O'Connell.
Eilis Lynch marked Galway's number 15 Roisin Leonard who struck two of Galway's three first-half points, her second a peach from open play after cleverly making space on the left and sniping.
Emma Reaney was brought into the Galway team in the only change to the side that beat Cork in the semi-final, but was taken off after 24 minutes as the Galway management looked to address their misfiring attack.
That Leonard point shortly after the substitution gave them some hope but the Dillane goal in the dying seconds of the half was a hammer blow that left Kerry with a 1-08 to 0-03 lead.
It was a fortunate goal as the defender's left-footed kick, following a quick exchange of passes through the centre, looped in over the goalkeeper's head.
But the eight-point interval margin - exactly the gap that Dublin opened up on Kerry after just 26 minutes of last year's final - didn't flatter the side jointly managed by Declan Quill and Darragh Long.
The sides shared six points evenly between them in the third quarter, leaving Kerry still eight clear 1-11 to 0-06.
Galway were already unloading the bench and had five subs brought on by the 48th minute as they chased some sort of spark to ignite a comeback.
But it was the punch that Kerry got from their bench, in the form of a remarkable cameo from O'Donoghue, that put the game to bed.
O'Donoghue's very first involvement ended in the clinching Kerry goal in the 45th minute, Ní Mhuircheartaigh doing the donkey work by providing the pass from the right.
O'Donoghue added two more points before playing a brilliant left-footed pass from the left across the goalmouth for Dineen to cap a great display with Kerry's third goal four minutes from full-time.
Galway weren't helped in that difficult final quarter by the loss of captain Ailbhe Davoren to a 46th minute yellow card sin-binning.
Kerry: Ciara Butler; Eilis Lynch, Kayleigh Cronin, Aoife Dillane (1-00); Aishling O'Connell, Ciara Murphy, Deirdre Kearney; Mary O'Connell (0-01), Anna Galvin (0-01); Niamh Carmody (0-01), Siofra O'Shea, Niamh Ni Chonchuir; Danielle O'Leary, Emma Dinneen (1-02), Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh (0-06, 0-04f).
Subs: Hannah O'Donoghue (1-02) for Ni Chonchuir 43, Lorraine Scanlon (0-01) for Kearney 47, Katie Brosnan for Carmody 52, Cait Lynch for Dillane 53, Kate O'Sullivan for Ni Mhuircheartaigh 56.
Galway: Dearbhla Gower; Maryanne Jordan, Sarah Lynch, Kate Geraghty; Charlotte Cooney (0-01), Nicola Ward, Aoife Ni Cheallaigh; Mairead Glynn, Ailbhe Davoren; Niamh Divilly (0-01), Louise Ward, Olivia Divilly (0-04, 0-02f); Emma Reaney, Leanne Coen, Roisin Leonard (0-03, 0-02f).
Subs: Andrea Trill (0-01) for Reaney 24, Eimile Gavin for Ni Cheallaigh 38, Marta Banek for Jordan 38, Shauna Hynes (0-01) for Glynn 46, Ailish Morrissey for Niamh Divilly 48.
Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).
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