Hello and welcome to the Gaelic Grounds for this evening’s Cadbury’s All-Ireland U21 football championship final between Cork and Galway.

Both teams are currently out on the pitch undergoing their warm-up’s with just half an hour to go until throw-in.

Here’s the Galway team that’s named to start this evening.

GALWAY: Thomas Healy (Corofin); Eoin Walsh (Moycullen), James Shaughnessy (Ballinasloe), David Cunnane (St Michael’s); Mark Loughnane (St Gabriel’s), Daithi Burke (Corofin), Paul Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks); Tom Flynn (Athenry), Fiontan O’Curraoin (Micheal Breathnach); Cathal Mulryan (Cortoon Shamrocks), Sean Moran (Claregalway), Damien Comer (Annaghdown); Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), Adrian Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks), Ian Burke (Corofin).

And this is the Cork starting fifteen that was announced during the week.

CORK: David Hanrahan (Douglas); Conor Dorman (Bishopstown), Damien Cahalane (Castlehaven), Alan Cronin (Nemo Rangers); Brian O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh), Tom Clancy (Clonakilty), Jamie Wall (Kilbrittain); Sean Kiely (Ballincollig), Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s); Alan Cadogan (Douglas), Mark Sugrue (Bandon), John O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers); Dan MacEoin (Ilen Rovers), Brian Hurley (Castlehaven), Luke Connolly (Nemo Rangers).

Here’s the Galway substitutes list for the game:

Galway Subs: James Healy (Annaghdown), Gearoid Canavan (Salthill-Knocknacarra), Philip Ezergailis (Moycullen), Liam Silke (Corofin), Eoghan Commins (Claregalway), Conor Rabbitte (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), Padraig Cunningham (Ballinasloe), Garry Kelly, Shane Maughan (St Michael’s).

And here’s the Cork substitutes list:

Cork Subs: Patrick Kirby (Tadhg Mac Carthaigh), Conor O’Sullivan (Clyda Rovers), Kevin Crowley (Millstreet), T.J. Brosnan (Newmarket), Kevin Fulignati (Nemo Rangers), Jamie Burns (St. Finbarr’s), Kevin Hallissey (Eire Óg), Cathal Vaughan (Iveleary), Thomas Hegarty (O’Donovan Rossa).

Some pre-match reading as we close in on throw-in:

• 7 things to know about today’s clash between Cork and Galway.
• The pre-match thoughts of Cork boss John Cleary and Galway manager Alan Flynn.
• And Cork captain Damien Cahalane on his friend Sunderland’s John Egan, choosing football over hurling and the crazy 2010 All-Ireland minor semi final between the counties.

The referee for tonight’s game is Meath’s David Gough with Laois man Eddie Kinsella the standby referee and Michael Meade of Limerick the other linesman.

Galway’s Shane Walsh is the top scorer to date in this year’s championship as he has registered 0-24 to date.

Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

We’re almost set to go here in the Gaelic Grounds on an evening where it’s overcast in Limerick.

Not a massive crowd here in Limerick but the main stand is almost full as we’re moments away from the start.

Cagey start to the game from both teams. The greasy surface looks like it’s going to hamper their efforts to produce flowing play.

Galway 0-1 Cork 0-0: 5 mins – Early scoring chance for Galway and Shane Walsh dispatches the ball between the posts from a free. The chance arose after Damien Comer was hauled back by Brian O’Driscoll as he rushed through the Cork rearguard.

Cork have chances to tie the game up but John O’Rourke hooks a shot wide from close range and then Brian Hurley is off target with another effort.

Galway 0-2 Cork 0-0: 8 mins – A bit further out on this occasion but the same result from a Shane Walsh free for Galway as they go two points clear.

Fiontan O Curraoin, the Galway captain, has made a big impact in the early stages to date at midfield. He was a member of the Galway side that won at this level two years ago.

Galway 0-3 Cork 0-1: 13 mins – Damien Cahalane gets Cork off the mark when he converts a ’45 but that is cancelled out by a lovely left-footed point by Galway half-forward Cathal Mulryan.

Cork strike a wide from Brian O’Driscoll after a spell of possession. The Rebels have yet to score from play with their execution poor in front of goal to date while Galway are also defending stoutly.

Yellow card for Cork defender Tomas Clancy after he hauled down Galway’s Sean Moran off the ball.

Galway 0-4 Cork 0-1: 17 mins – Galway stretch their lead with Mulryan again on target with a right-foot shot on this occasion from distance. He’s also playing as a sweeper in the Galway defence but the Cortoon Shamrocks player is getting forward to join his attack frequently as well.

Galway 0-5 Cork 0-1: 19 mins – Another point for Galway, this time Adrian Varley fires over a superb score under pressure after great build-up play by Ian Burke and Damien Comer.

Galway 0-6 Cork 0-2: 22 mins – Vital point for Cork from a free by Brian Hurley after John O’Rourke was fouled by Adrian Varley, who was booked for the indiscretion. But then Galway hit back straight away with corner-forward Ian Burke firing over a superb point.

Galway 0-7 Cork 0-3: 25 mins – The teams trade points again with Brian Hurley popping over Cork’s first point from play before Galway respond with a sublime effort by Ian Burke from distance.

Galway 0-8 Cork 0-3: 26 mins – Galway have controlled this opening period and are now five points clear with Walsh tapping over a free after Damien Comer was fouled.

Cork’s shooting is continuing to let them down as they spurn another couple of chances to eat into Galway’s lead. Galway have been far more economical in this half which explains why they are ahead.

Galway 0-8 Cork 0-4: 29 mins – Better play from Cork as Brian Hurley sets in motion a move that sees Brian O’Driscoll cut through the defence and offloads to Dan McEoin who taps over a point off his right foot.

Galway 0-9 Cork 0-4: 30 mins – But Cork then cough up a point when Damien Cahalane gives away possession from a free and Varley feeds the impressive Burke. The Corofin youngster does what he has done throughout this opening period as he splits the posts.

HALF-TIME: Galway 0-9 Cork 0-5: Cork complete the first-half action by notching a fine point by Dan McEoin.

Galway 0-9 Cork 0-7: 32 mins – We’re back underway for the second-half and Brian Hurley has got Cork off to an excellent start with a pair of fine points from play.

Galway 0-10 Cork 0-8: 34 mins – This match has caught fire with quality points just registered by both sides. Ian Burke kicked his fourth point of the game for Galway with Dan McEoin responding with an equally stylish effort for Cork.

Conditions starting to get difficult for both sets of players here with rain falling in the Gaelic Grounds and the floodlights have been turned on. Change in the Cork team sees Jamie Burns replace Sean Kiely at midfield.

Galway 0-11 Cork 0-8: 37 mins – Galway go three points clear through Cathal Mulryan as he knocks over a point after a well-worked team move.

Galway 0-12 Cork 0-8: 40 mins – Now the gap is out to four points with Shane Walsh kicking over his fourth free of the game for Galway. Cork replace Mark Sugrue with Cathal Vaughan.

Galway’s Mark Loughnane and Dan Mac Eoin of Cork
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan

Goal for Galway from Damien Comer!

Galway 1-13 Cork 0-8: 41 mins – The complexion of the game has changed now with Damien Comer blasting the ball to the roof of the net and then Paul Varley taps over a point. Galway are now eight points clear and in a commanding position.

TJ Brosnan replaces Jamie Wall in the Cork defence.

Galway 1-14 Cork 0-9: 43 mins – David Cunnane for Galway and Alan Cadogan for Cork trade points.

Galway 1-14 Cork 1-10: 45 mins – Lifeline for Cork as Brian Hurley unleashes a fabulous left foot shot to the net and then substitute Cathal Vaughan fires over a point.

Galway 1-14 Cork 1-11: 46 mins – Three point game as Dan McEoin swings over a superb free for Cork. Galway bring on Conor Rabbitte for Sean Moran.

Galway goalkeeper Thomas Healy has had to come off through injury with James Healy coming on to replace him.

Galway’s Damien Comer celebrates scoring a goal
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan

Philip Ezergailis is on for Galway instead of David Cunnane in defence while Shane Walsh has just fired a free wide for Galway.

Five minutes left here in Limerick and Galway three points ahead.

Another Walsh free flies wide for Galway. Cork bring on Kevin Hallissey for Alan Cadogan.

Brian Hurley’s point effort for Cork hits the post. Galway bring on Shane Maughan for Adrian Varley while Garry Kelly replaces Ian Burke.

FULL-TIME: Galway 1-14 Cork 1-11: All over and Galway are crowned All-Ireland champions.

For the second time in three years, Galway are crowned All-Ireland U21 football champions before an attendance of 4,324 here in the Gaelic Grounds.

Galway were eight points clear at one stage but ultimately were made to work hard for the honours as Cork surged back into contention with a late scoring spree.

Here’s the scorers from today’s game:

GALWAY: Ian Burke, Shane Walsh (0-4f) 0-4 each, Cathal Mulryan 0-3, Damien Comer 1-0, David Cunnane, Paul Varley, Adrian Varley 0-1 each.
CORK: Brian Hurley 1-4 (0-1f), Dan McEoin 0-4 (0-1f), Damien Cahalane (0-1 ’45), Alan Cadogan, Cathal Vaughan 0-1 each.

That’s all from us here, thanks for joining us this evening.