Welcome to Croke Park for today’s eagerly-awaited hurling action. The senior showdown between Kilkenny and Tipperary is the main item on the agenda at 3.30pm but before that we have the meeting of Tipperary and Galway in the minor clash at 1.30pm.

We’ll have the teams in a moment but first of all, here’s all you need to know about today’s minor game.

Here’s the Tipperary team for the game. Tom Fox and Kevin Slattery come into the team in place of Dylan Fitzelle and Sean Ryan respectively from the side that won the Munster minor final against Clare by 1-16 to 1-12.

TIPPERARY: Paul Maher (Moyne-Templetuohy); Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Michael Breen (Ballina), Jack Peters (Kilruane McDonagh’s); Tom Fox (Éire Óg Annacarty), Thomas Hamill (Killea), Barry Heffernan (Éire Óg Nenagh); Bill Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney); Tadhg Gallagher (Kildangan), Jack Shelly (Mullinahone), Steven O’Brien (Ballina); Stephen Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields), Kevin Slattery (Gortnahoe-Glengoole), Mark McCarthy (Toomevara).

Here’s the Galway team for the game. Changes since the quarter-final win over Wexford see Eanna Burke come in to defence in replace of fellow clubmate Shane Cooney. Ballindereen’s Sean Collins enters the fray at midfield, with Brian Murtagh pushing forward with Liam Mellow’s Adrian Morrissey being the player to lose out.

GALWAY: Mike O’Conghaile (Michael Breathnachs), Daragh O’Donoghue (Kilnadeema-Leitrim), Paul Killeen (Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry), Eanna Burke (St Thomas); Shane Caulfield (Kilconieron), Sean Sweeney (Loughrea), Barry Keane (Clarinbridge); Sean Collins (Ballindereen), Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh); Brian Murtagh (Ardrahan), Daragh Dolan (Cappataggle), Jason Flynn (Tommie Larkins); Ronan O’Meara (Portumna), Michael Mullins (Gort), Brian Molloy (Kilnadeema-Leitrim).

Eanna Burke who comes into the Galway side at left corner-back is a younger brother of senior player David who lined out in the Galway attack that won the All-Ireland semi-final against Cork last Sunday. His other brother Darragh was a member of the substitutes in Anthony Cunningham’s squad last Sunday.

Here are the Galway substitutes for today’s minor game.

GALWAY: 16. Michael Fahy (Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry), 17. Shane Cooney (St Thomas), 18. Adrian Morrissey (Liam Mellowes), 19. Owen Treacy (Portumna), 20. Sean Linnane (Turloughmore), 21. Richard Doyle (Turloughmore), 22. Peter English (Tommy Larkins), 23. Aidan Higgins (Athenry), 24. Cillín Ó hEochaidh (An Spidéal).

And here are the Tipperary substitutes for today’s minor game.

TIPPERARY: 16. Jimmy Maher (Clonoulty-Rossmore), 17. Ger Fennelly (Ballingarry), 18. Dylan Fitzelle (Cashel King Cormacs), 19. Tom Kirwan (Ballybacon-Grange), 20. Conor Lanigan (Thurles Sarsfields), 21. Jack Loughnane (Kildangan), 22. Sean Maher (Clonoulty-Rossmore), 23. Luke Mullally (Mullinahone), 24. Sean Ryan (Sean Treacys).

We’re underway.

Galway 0-1 Tipperary 0-0: 2 mins – Lovely point from corner-forward Brian Molloy gets Galway off the mark.

Galway 1-1 Tipperary 0-0: 3 mins – Goal for Galway and it was a superb score. The move was started by Brian Murtagh’s great overhead strike which was expertly caught by Molloy under pressure. He offloaded into space for Jason Flynn, who has started at full-forward, to run onto and whip a fierce shot to the net past Paul Maher.

Galway 1-1 Tipperary 0-1: 5 mins – A neat point by Tipperary’s Stephen Cahill gets the Premier side off the mark. Temporary substitute for Galway with Peter English on for Darragh O’Donoghue.

Galway 1-1 Tipperary 0-2: 6 mins – Another point for Tipperary, this time from wing-back Barry Heffernan who launches over a shot from distance. Darragh O’Donoghue is back into the Galway defence for Peter English.

Tipperary 1-2 Galway 1-1: 8 mins – Lively start to this game with Tipperary now finding the net. Barry Heffernan smashes a long ball forward and after goalkeeper Maidhc Ó Conghaile advances, it is corner-forward Stephen Cahill who nips in to get to the ball first and flick it to the net.

Tipperary 1-3 Galway 1-2: 10 mins – The teams trade points with the respective centre-forwards John McGrath (Tipperary), who has moved from midfield, and Darragh Dolan (Galway) both finding their range.

Tipperary 1-4 Galway 1-2: 11 mins – Toomevara’s Mark McCarthy fires over off his left for a point to extend Tipperary’s advantage.

Very noticeable that Tipperary are employing a short-passing style as they seek to retain possession all over the pitch.

Goal chance for Tipperary but Mark McCarthy’s one-handed effort finds the side-netting.

Tipperary 1-4 Galway 1-3: 16 mins – Tipperary have squandered a lot of possession and Galway pounce for a point in a rare attack with Ronan O’Meara on the mark.

Tipperary 1-5 Galway 1-4: 19 mins – John McGrath converts a ’65 for Tipperary but it is quickly cancelled out by Galway’s Brian Molloy who fires over a free from 40 yards.

Tipperary 1-5 Galway 1-5: 21 mins – Ronan O’Meara ties the match with a Galway point after a neat pass by Cathal Mannion created the opportunity.

Tipperary spurn another goal chance, this time Stephen O’Brien had the opportunity but he was placed under pressure by the covering Galway defence and the ball went wide.

Galway 1-6 Tipperary 1-5: 25 mins – Galway edge ahead when Darragh Dolan arrows over a point but they are then grateful at the other end for goalkeeper Maidhc Ó Conghaile standing up to block a goal bound effort from Stephen Cahill after John McGrath had popped in a pass to the Thurles Sarsfields player. McGrath has just missed a free from near the Cusack Stand.

Another excellent reaction save, this time from Tipperary net minder Paul Maher to deny Jason Flynn his second goal for Galway.

Galway 1-6 Tipperary 1-6: 28 mins – The teams are level again with John McGrath converting a ’65 for Tipperary.

HALF-TIME: Tipperary 1-7 Galway 1-6: Tipperary move ahead at the break with John McGrath firing over a free after he was fouled himself, shipping a heavy challenge from Galway defender Paul Killeen.

Tipperary’s John McGrath and Barry Keane of Galway in action during the first-half. Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan

Here are the scorers in the first-half of today’s game. We’ll be back shortly with all the second-half action.

TIPPERARY: Stephen Cahill 1-1, John McGrath 0-4 (0-2 ’65, 0-1f), Mark McCarthy, Barry Heffernan 0-1 each.
GALWAY: Jason Flynn 1-0, Brian Molloy (0-1f), Darragh Dolan, Ronan O’Meara 0-2 each.

One Tipperary change at half-time with Sean Ryan in at midfield as Kevin Slattery makes way while for Galway bring on Adrian Morrissey for Brian Murtagh.

Tipperary 1-8 Galway 1-7: 32 mins – A quickfire start to the second-half as Darragh Dolan points for Galway and then Stephen Cahill registers a score for Tipperary.

Tipperary 1-8 Galway 1-8: 33 mins – Brian Molloy is fouled for Galway and he dispatches the resultant free between the posts. Tipperary’s Jack Shelly is booked for an earlier incident.

Tipperary 1-9 Galway 1-8: 36 mins – John McGrath notches his fifth point of the game, the latest one from a free, for Tipperary. The sunshine has come out in Croke Park.

Tipperary 2-10 Galway 1-9: 37 mins – Huge boost for Tipperary as they open up a four-point gap. Mark McCarthy rockets home a terrific goal off his left-hand side from 13 yards and that is followed up by a Jack Shelly point. Jason Flynn does grab one back for Galway in reply.

Tipperary 2-10 Galway 1-10: 39 mins – Galway have bounced back well from the concession of that goal with Cathal Mannion notching their latest point. Peter English is on for the Tribesmen instead of Sean Collins.

Tipperary 2-10 Galway 1-11: 41 mins – The gap is down to two points after Galway’s Darragh Dolan raises a white flag.

Tipperary 2-11 Galway 1-11: 42 mins – Tom Fox becomes the latest Tipperary player to fire over a point, striking a great shot from near the Hogan Stand. Sean Maher is in to the Tipperary team for Steven O’Brien.

Tipperary 2-12 Galway 1-11: 45 mins – Substitute Sean Maher keeps Tipperary ticking over with a point but more critically Galway full-back and captain Paul Killeen has just been sent-off after receiving a second yellow card.

Tipperary 2-12 Galway 1-12: 48 mins – Fourteen man Galway pull a point back through a Brian Molloy free. Owen Treacy is on to the Galway team instead of Michael Mullins.

Tipperary 2-14 Galway 1-12: 50 mins – The extra man is starting to impact as Tipperary grab points through John McGrath from a free and Sean Maher from play. They’re in a commanding position now.

Tipperary 2-14 Galway 1-13: 53 mins – Ronan O’Meara lobs over a point for Galway but it is goals they need and moments previously Owen Treacy’s ground shot was brilliantly tipped away by Tipperary goalkeeper Paul Maher.

Tipperary 2-16 Galway 1-13: 55 mins – John McGrath taps over another point for Tipperary and Jack Shelly grabs another soon after. Galway are trying desperately hard but Tipperary’s defence with Michael Breen and Thomas Hamill to the fore are in control. Sean Linnane is on for Galway instead of Adrian Morrissey.

Aidan Higgins comes into the Galway attack for Brian Molloy.

Tipperary 2-16 Galway 1-14: 60 mins –  A consolation for Galway from substitute Aidan Higgins. Conor Lanigan is on for Tipperary instead of Jack Shelly.

FULL-TIME: Tipperary 2-16 Galway 1-14: A deserved victory for William Maher’s Tipperary side as they advance to face Dublin in the decider on September 9th when this year’s All-Ireland minor hurling title was up for grabs. Inspired by the likes of Michael Breen, Thomas Hamill, John McGrath, Mark McCarthy and Stephen Cahill, they proved too strong here for Galway. The sending-off of Galway captain Paul Killeen was undoubtedly a critical moment as he had been playing excellently with Darragh Dolan and Brian Molloy others to show up well for the Tribesmen.

So that’s the conclusion of today’s first game with Tipperary hurling getting off to a positive start with success in the minor clash. The scorers from the tie are below, thanks for all your comments and for joining us. We’ll be back shortly with the build-up to today’s senior match.

TIPPERARY: John McGrath 0-7 (0-3f, 0-2 ’65), Stephen Cahill 1-2, Mark McCarthy 1-1, Sean Maher 0-2, Tom Fox, Barry Heffernan 0-1 each.
GALWAY: Jason Flynn 1-1, Darragh Dolan, Brian Molloy (0-3f) 0-4 each, Ronan O’Meara 0-3, Cathal Mannion, Aidan Higgins 0-1 each.