Welcome to Croke Park for the biggest day in the 2012 hurling calendar with the All-Ireland senior and minor hurling finals down for decision. First up it’s the minor meeting of Dublin and Tipperary and we’re 15 minutes away from throw-in. Both teams are currently out on the pitch warming up.

Here’s the Tipperary team for today’s game.

TIPPERARY MH: Paul Maher (Moyne-Templetuohy); Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Michael Breen (Ballina), Jack Peters (Kilruane McDonaghs); Tom Fox (Eire Og Annacarty), Tomas Hamill (Killea), Barry Heffernan (Eire Og Nenagh); Bill Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney); Sean Maher (Clonoulty-Rossmore), Jack Shelly (Mullinahone), Tadhg Gallagher (Kildangan); Stephen Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields), Steven O’Brien (Ballina), Mark McCarthy (Toomevara).

And here’s the Dublin team for the game.

DUBLIN MH: Cian MacGabhann (Kilmacud Crokes); Shane Barrett (Na Fianna), Cian O’Callaghan (Cuala), Eric Lowndes (St Peregrine’s); Eoghan O’Donnell (Whitehall Colmcille), Robert Murphy (Kilmacud Crokes), Sean McClelland (Lucan Sarsfields); Cormac Costello (Whitehall Colmcille), Colm Cronin (Cuala); Conor McHugh (Na Fianna), Donal Gormley (Ballinteer St John’s), Caolan Conway (Klmacud Crokes); Paul Winters (St Brigid’s), Cian Boland (St Oliver Plunkett’s Eoghan Ruadh), Oisin O’Rorke (Kilmacud Crokes).

Dublin are aiming to avoid a second successive defeat in this competition after losing last year’s decider to Galway. Cormac Costello, Paul Winters and Conor McHugh are three key players to watch out for in their line-up.

Tipperary have been extremely impressive this season with Bill Maher, John McGrath and Stephen Cahill excelling in their semi-final win over Galway. They have players with experience of All-Ireland final day following last September’s minor football triumph while a number of their side also won an All-Ireland colleges medal earlier this year with Nenagh CBS.

The players are taking their positions and referee Colm Lyons from Cork is getting set to start the match.

Dublin 0-1 Tipperary 0-0: 1 mins – First blood to Dublin with Paul Winters firing over a free from Cusack Stand side of the pitch.

Dublin 0-2 Tipperary 0-0: 3 mins – A wonderful point by wing-back Eoghan O’Donnell stretches Dublin’s advantage.

Dublin 0-3 Tipperary 0-0: 4 mins – And there’s another Dublin point, this time by Cormac Costello. The capital youngsters have started really brightly here.

Dublin 0-4 Tipperary 0-0: 6 mins – Dublin can do no wrong in the early stages with Conor McHugh lofting over a point from deep off his left hand side. Tipperary are struggling to settle.

Positional changes to tell you about in the Tipperary line-up sees Steven O’Brien at wing-forward, Tadgh Gallagher at centre-forward and Sean Maher at full-forward.

Dublin 0-4 Tipperary 0-1: 8 mins – Finally Tipperary get off the mark as John McGrath pops over a close-range free.

Dublin 0-4 Tipperary 1-1: 10 mins – The complexion of the game quickly changes as Tipperary find the net courtesy of a fierce drive from a penalty by John McGrath. It’s a terrible goal for Dublin to concede as a short puck out goes wrong, is seized on by Mark McCarthy and the Premier corner-forward is hauled down near goal.

Tipperary 1-2 Dublin 0-5: 12 mins – Tipperary edge ahead courtesy of a John McGrath free but Dublin’s Conor McHugh cancels that out immediately with a superb point. This is developing into a good contest now.

Dublin 0-6 Tipperary 1-2: 14 mins – Dublin have bounced back well from the concession of that goal with Cian Boland the latest forward to get on the scoresheet by notching a point.

Dublin 0-6 Tipperary 1-3: 15 mins – John McGrath rifles over a free from the left wing  to tie the match. He is Tipperary’s only scorer so far and they have yet to register an effort from play.

Dublin 1-6 Tipperary 1-3: 17 mins – A brilliant goal from Dublin and it arrives courtesy of Cormac Costello. It looked like Donal Gormley was fouled initially but the play was waved on, Costello burst onto it and his pace took him clear of the Tipperary rearguard. His left-handed strike was assured and the ball nestled in the far corner of the net near Hill 16.

A chance for Dublin to extend their lead but Paul Winters free goes wide of the upright.

Dublin are working extremely hard all over the pitch and are full value for this lead. Tipperary have not warmed to the task yet but are still only three points adrift.

Dublin 1-7 Tipperary 1-3: 22 mins – No mistake from Paul Winters on this occasion as he converts a free for Dublin.

Dublin 1-7 Tipperary 1-4: 26 mins – Tipperary cut the gap courtesy of a John McGrath free. Remarkably they have yet to score from play despite possessing a highly-rated attack.

Dublin 1-8 Tipperary 1-4: 27 mins – He’s a hugely talented footballer and Cormac Costello is demonstrating his talent as a hurler here. He’s just lofted over a stunning point to place Dublin four points ahead.

Dublin 1-8 Tipperary 1-5: 28 mins – Tipperary have badly needed the marksmanship of John McGrath in this half. The Loughmore-Castleiney youngster has just fired over another free to bring his total to 1-5 for the day.

Some outstanding defending from Dublin there to repel the Tipperary attack with Shane Barrett making a heroic block to stop a goal bound drive from Tadhg Gallagher.

HALF-TIME: Dublin 1-8 Tipperary 1-5: And at the interval it is Dublin in the ascendancy. They are fully deserving of that advantage with Tipperary, pre-match favorites, failing to ignite yet. But Dublin’s lead is only three points despite all their dominance and Tipperary are still in the hunt despite being completely reliant on John McGrath for scores in the opening half. We’ll be back shortly with the second-half action.

We’re back underway and Dublin almost get in for a goal through Oisin O’Rorke but his effort hits the side-netting. Sean Ryan is on for Tipperary in place of Jack Shelly.

Dublin 1-8 Tipperary 1-6: 32 mins – First score of the half from Tipperary’s John McGrath as he converts a ’65.

Dublin 1-8 Tipperary 1-7: 33 mins – Finally Tipperary grab a score from play and finally someone other than John McGrath gets on the scoresheet. It’s a lovely point as well with Sean Maher on the mark.

Tipperary 2-7 Dublin 1-9: 34 mins – Goal for Tipperary! The Premier side are in the ascendancy with Mark McCarthy profiting from a fine delivery by Bill Maher to neatly finish to the net after escaping the clutches of the Dublin defence. Dublin grab a point back soon after through Cian Boland.

Tipperary 2-7 Dublin 1-10: 38 mins – The teams are back on level terms after Dublin wing-back Sean McClelland raises a white flag.

Tipperary 2-8 Dublin 1-10: 42 mins – Stephen Cahill is fouled and John McGrath bangs over the resultant free to restore Tipperary’s advantage.

Tipperary 2-9 Dublin 1-10: 44 mins – And that’s another pointed free by John McGrath, this time after Bill Maher was fouled.

Tipperary 2-9 Dublin 1-11: 45 mins – It continues to be delicately balanced as Paul Winters pulls a score back for Dublin as he converts a free.

Dublin 1-12 Tipperary 2-9: 48 mins – This is going to go down to the wire it seems as Paul Winters snaps over a free that ties the match.

Great goal chance for Tipperary but Tadhg Gallagher’s snap shot is deflected away for a ’65 by Cian MacGabhann.

Tipperary 2-10 Dublin 1-13: 50 mins – John McGrath does what is required from that ’65 by hitting over a point that pushes Tipperary ahead but Dublin reply quickly after courtesy of Donal Gormley.

Changes on both sides as Kevin Slattery comes on for Tadhg Gallagher on the Tipperary side with Chris Bennett replacing Caolan Conway for Dublin.

Tipperary 2-11 Dublin 1-14: 53 mins – Points swapped once more with John McGrath striking a free for Tipperary and Cormac Costello striking from play for Dublin. It has not been the most free-flowing match but it’s tight and engaging entering the finale.

Tipperary 2-12 Dublin 1-14: 54 mins – McGrath hits another free to push Tipperary ahead but the awarding of that free was roundly criticized by the Dublin supporters.

Tipperary 2-13 Dublin 1-14: 57 mins – A second point of the game for Sean Maher and a priceless one it could be as the Tipperary attacker taps over a point after captain Bill Maher popped a hand pass to him.

Tipperary 2-13 Dublin 1-15: 59 mins – Back to a one-point game as Paul Winters smashes over a free for Dublin. It’s tense and exciting entering the closing moments.

Two minutes of injury time to be played.

Late Tipperary substitution with Conor Lanigan on for Mark McCarthy.

Tipperary 2-13 Dublin 1-16: Paul Winters ties the game with a pointed free for Dublin.

FULL-TIME: Tipperary 2-13 Dublin 1-16: And that’s it, the teams have finished level. There’s going to have to be a replay, most likely next Saturday, to decide the destination of this year’s All-Ireland minor hurling title.

An exciting conclusion to the game with Paul Winters proving the hero for Dublin with that late pointed free yet Tipperary will be aggrieved at the decision to penalize centre-back Tomas Hamill for over-carrying. The replay will likely take place next Saturday with O’Moore Park in Portlaoise a potential venue unless Dublin would agree to play the game in Semple Stadium where it could be on the same card as the Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21 hurling final between Clare and Kilkenny.

Here are the scorers from today’s minor clash.

TIPPERARY: John McGrath 1-11 (0-9f, 1-0 pen, 0-1 ’65), Mark McCarthy 1-0, Sean Maher 0-2.
DUBLIN: Cormac Costello 1-3, Paul Winters 0-6 (0-6f), Cian Boland, Conor McHugh 0-2 each, Sean McClelland, Eoghan O’Donnell, Donal Gormley 0-1 each.

The scoring contributions of John McGrath on the Tipperary side along with Dublin duo Cormac Costello and Paul Winters stood out. That’s all from us, we’ll be back shortly with the build-up to today’s glamour senior game. Thanks for joining us and for all your comments.