Good afternoon, folks. Welcome along to our liveblog of the All-Ireland U21 hurling final between Galway and Waterford at Semple Stadium in Thurles, where throw-in is at 5pm.
We’ll keep you posted throughout the game, which marks the first ever championship meeting of these two counties at this level.
Appearing in their third final, Waterford are aiming for their first title since their only previous triumph way back in 1992 — a team which defeated Offaly after a replay and featured the likes of Ken McGrath, Tony Browne, Paul Flynn and Fergal Hartley.
This is Galway’s 21st final in this grade, but their first since 2011 when they defeated Dublin to win the James Nowlan Cup for the 10th time.
Galway have made two changes for this Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21 hurling decider, with Turloughmore’s Vincent Doyle and Sean Linnane both being handed starting berths at right half-back and left half-forward respectively.
The duo came on as substitutes in the semi-final win over Dublin, with Fintan Burke and Cian Burke the players to make way in the team selected by manager Tony Ward.
Conor Whelan has been named to start at full-forward despite being an injury doubt after damaging his shoulder in that victory over Dublin. Whelan is joined in the attack by fellow senior panellists Brian Molloy and Eanna Burke.
There’s also been a change in the Waterford team, with goalkeeper Jordan Henley returning between the posts instead of Gavin Power. Tom Devine is also named to start at centre-forward despite being an injury concern after hurting his ankle.
Galway
1. Cathal Tuohy (Tommie Larkins)
2. Conor Jennings (Loughrea)
3. Darragh O’Donoghue (Kilnadeema Leitrim)
4. Declan Cronin (Cappataggle)
5. Vincent Doyle (Turloughmore)
6. Shane Cooney (St Thomas)
7. Sean Loftus (Turloughmore)
8. Darragh Dolan (Cappataggle)
9. Dan Nevin (Cappataggle)
10. Kevin McHugo (Tommie Larkins)
11. Brian Molloy (Kilnadeema Leitrim – captain)
12. Sean Linnane (Turloughmore)
13. Thomas Monaghan (Craughwell)
14. Conor Whelan (Kinvara)
15. Eanna Burke (St Thomas)
Waterford
1. Jordan Henley (Tallow)
2. William Hahessy (Clonea)
3. Conor Gleeson (Fourmilewater)
4. Darragh Lyons (Dungarvan)
5. Míchéal Harney (Bunmahon)
6. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion)
7. Conor Prunty (Abbeyside)
8. Mark O’Brien (Ferrybank)
9. Colm Roche (Shamrocks)
10. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart)
11. Tom Devine (Modeligo)
12. DJ Foran (Portlaw)
13. Patrick Curran (Dungarvan — joint captain)
14. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart)
15. Michael Kearney (Ballyduff Upper)
A win for Galway will see them draw level with Cork and Kilkenny with 11 titles at the top of the roll of honour. Barry Daly captained the Tribesmen to their last triumph five years ago.
Here’s Paul Flynn being tracked by Offaly’s Henry Kilmartin during Waterford’s successful 1992 final.
While we’re waiting for throw-in, take a look at six players The42‘s Kevin O’Brien has picked out to watch in this game.
Congratulations also to Meath, who were 1-20 to 0-15 winners against Mayo in today’s All-Ireland U21 B final curtain raiser.
Galway 0-0 Waterford 0-0
1 min: The game is underway, with Galway playing into the Town End and Waterford attacking the Killinan End.
Sean Cleere from Kilkenny is the referee.
GOAL! Waterford 1-0 Galway 0-0 (DJ Foran, 1)
Waterford 1-0 Galway 0-0
2 min: What a start for Waterford, as DJ Foran marches through the Galway defence before firing the ball past goalkeeper Cathal Tuohy.
Waterford 1-0 Galway 0-1
4 min: Captain Brian Molloy gets Galway off the mark with a straightforward free.
Waterford 1-0 Galway 0-2
6 min: Molloy knocks over another one, this time from play, and the gap is one.
Waterford 1-1 Galway 0-2
7 min: Well-taken free from Patrick Curran for Waterford. Stephen Bennett then gets a chance to get one from play for the Deise but he puts his effort wide.
Waterford 1-2 Galway 0-3
10 min: Curran points from play to restore Waterford’s three-point lead. Yellow card for Austin Gleeson for connecting with the faceguard of Sean Linnane. Molloy points the free.
Waterford 1-3 Galway 0-3
11 min: Tom Devine fouled by Declan Cronin and Curran converts the free for Waterford.
GOAL! Waterford 2-3 Galway 0-3 (Patrick Curran, 12)
Waterford 2-4 Galway 0-3
13 min: Great work again by DJ Foran, who sets up Curran to provide a tidy finish from a tight angle. Curran then adds a free and Waterford lead by seven.
GOAL! Waterford 3-4 Galway 0-3 (Stephen Bennett, 14)
Waterford 3-5 Galway 0-3
16 min: A sublime pass from Curran to set up Bennett, who finished emphatically. Curran then slots over another free and the Deise are cruising.
Waterford 3-6 Galway 0-4
19 min: Huge point for Galway by Kevin McHugo, before Mikey Kearney responds for Waterford.
Waterford 3-6 Galway 0-4
21 min: Brian Molloy misses with a free you’d have expected him to convert, which sums up a disappointing first half so far for the Tribesmen.
Waterford 3-7 Galway 0-4
23 min: Great point from Mikey Kearney from out on the left to stretch Waterford’s lead to 12 points.
Waterford 3-8 Galway 0-4
24 min: Another point for Waterford from Tom Devine but it was a brilliant save from Cathal Tuohy to prevent a fourth goal for the Deise.
Waterford 3-8 Galway 0-5
26 min: Tidy point by Molloy from a narrow angle on the left.
Waterford 3-9 Galway 0-5
28 min: Austin Gleeson points a massive free from inside his own half and Waterford have a 13-point lead approaching the break.
Waterford 3-9 Galway 0-6
29 min: Another Molloy free cuts the gap but it’ll be a long way back for Galway. Waterford are well in control.
Waterford 3-9 Galway 0-6
30 min: A minute to be added on at the end of the half.
Waterford 3-10 Galway 0-6
30 min: Superb hurling by Waterford. Gleeson takes a pass from Darragh Lyons and splits the posts on the run on his left side from 60 yards out.
Half-time: Waterford 3-10 Galway 0-6
Waterford have been exceptional in the first half. They’re so far ahead that this game has lacked the tenacity you’d expect from an All-Ireland final. Galway will need that to change because they’ve got just 30 minutes to address a 13-point deficit. We’ll be back shortly for the second half.
Waterford 3-10 Galway 0-6
31 min: Is there a way back for Galway? We’re about to find out. The second half is on.
Waterford 3-10 Galway 0-7
32 min: Good point from a tricky angle for Galway’s Sean Linnane.
Waterford 3-10 Galway 0-8
33 min: Another fine score for Galway, this time from Conor Whelan. This is the start they needed.
Waterford 3-10 Galway 0-9
36 min: Molloy finishes off a great Galway move and they’re slowly closing the gap.
Waterford 3-10 Galway 0-10
36 min: Another one for Linnane. That’s four unanswered points for Galway in the first six minutes of this second period.
Waterford 3-10 Galway 0-11
37 min: Brilliant point from Eanna Burke and the gap has been reduced from 13 points to eight in the space of just over six second-half minutes.
Waterford 3-10 Galway 0-11
40 min: Shane Bennett with a wide for Waterford, who are still looking for their first score of the second half.
Waterford 3-11 Galway 0-11
40 min: There it is. Patrick Curran with a free to bring Waterford’s lead to nine again.
Waterford 3-11 Galway 0-11
42 min: Linnane, who has been excellent, wins a free for Galway just outside the 21 but Molloy goes for goal and sends it wide.
Waterford 3-11 Galway 0-11
44 min: Curran takes a free for Waterford but it’s a rare wide from the corner-forward.
Waterford 3-11 Galway 0-12
48 min: Eanna Burke gets another fine point to leave eight between the teams again.
GOAL! Waterford 4-11 Galway 0-12 (Shane Bennett, 49)
Waterford 4-11 Galway 0-12
50 min: Stephen Bennett sent the ball across the face of the goal and Shane was there to flick it in. Waterford led by 11 and that surely will kill Galway’s hopes.
Waterford 4-12 Galway 0-12
52 min: Curran points for Waterford from wide on the left. What a game he’s had.
Waterford 4-12 Galway 0-13
53 min: Eanna Burke isn’t giving up the fight. He gets another excellent point for Galway.
Waterford 4-13 Galway 0-13
56 min: Curran with another outstanding point from long range. Waterford are just moments away from their second All-Ireland U21 hurling title and their first in 24 years.
GOAL! Waterford 5-13 Galway 0-13 (Stephen Bennett, 57)
Waterford 5-13 Galway 0-14
59 min: A quite remarkable goal from Bennett, who plucked Austin Gleeson’s long-range sideline cut from the air and then rattled the net off his left from a very tight angle. Conor Whelan responds with a Galway point.
Waterford 5-14 Galway 0-14
60 min: Shane Bennett with a magical point from way out on the left. Some of the scores from Waterford today have really been remarkable. A special team worthy of this All-Ireland title.
Waterford 5-14 Galway 0-14
60 min: Superb save by Jordan Henley to deny Galway a goal.
Waterford 5-15 Galway 0-14
60 (+3) min: Curran points a free from halfway. One of the four added minutes remaining.
Waterford defeat Galway by 5-15 to 0-14 to win their first All-Ireland U21 hurling title since 1992.
The future is bright for Waterford, the 2016 Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21 hurling champions.
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