So would Leinster champions Kilkenny continue their winning ways or would beaten Munster finalists Waterford overcome them?
The teams met in today’s All-Ireland minor hurling semi-final and we had all the action.
As always, we’d love to hear your comments. Send them to fintan@thescore.ie, tweet them @TheScoreGAA, find us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.
RESULT: Waterford 2-12 Kilkenny 0-16
Welcome to Croke Park as we get set for this afternoon’s curtain-raiser. It’s Kilkenny against Waterford in the All-Ireland minor hurling semi-final.
Here’s the Kilkenny team named to start today:
Kilkenny: Darren Brennan (St. Lachtains); Conor Delaney (Erins Own), Evan Cody (Dicksboro), Ciaran Wallace (Erins Own); James Maher (St. Lachtains), Jason Stanley (Galmoy), Darragh Joyce (Rower Inistioge); Niall Mullins (James Stephens), Ciaran Ryan (Rower Inistioge); Liam Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge), Vinny Teehan (Graigue Ballycallan), Kevin Kenny (Dicksboro); Alan Murphy (Glenmore), John Walsh (Mullinavat), Eoin Kenny (Slieverue).
They’ve made three changes for the game.
Captain James Tyrell and Daniel O’Connor both start on the bench with Conor Delaney and John Walsh named instead at corner-back and full-forward by manager Pat Hoban.
Graigue Ballycallan’s Vinny Teehan replaces the injured Garry Kelly at centre-forward.
Here’s the Waterford team that is named to start:
Waterford: Gavin Power (Dungarvan); William Hahessy (Clonea), Kevin Daly (Dungarvan), Cian Leamy (Ballyduff Upper); Micheal Harney (Bonmahon), Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion), Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart), Mark O’Brien (Ferrybank), Tom Devine (Modeligo); Adam Farrell (De La Salle), Colm Roche (Shamrocks), DJ Foran (Portlaw); Patrick Curran (Dungarvan), Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart), Michael Kearney (Ballyduff Upper).
Three changes also for Waterford with Tom Devine, Adam Farrell and Colm Roche all coming into the starting line-up.
Devine starts at midfield, Farrell is named at wing-foward while Roche is selected at centre-forward. There is one positional change as a result of Devine’s introduction with Micheal Harney switching to right half-back.
The players to make way are Sam O’Neill, Paul O’Connor and Cormac Curran.
Limerick’s Shane Hourigan is the referee for today’s game. He was the man in the middle for Wednesday night’s Munster U21 final.
We’re getting set for action here in Croke Park.
Kilkenny 0-1 Waterford 0-0: 2 mins – First blood to Kilkenny with a lovely point by Kevin Kenny.
Kilkenny 0-2 Waterford 0-0: 4 mins – And Glenmore’s Alan Murphy extends Kilkenny’s lead as he slams over a free from the right wing.
Kilkenny 0-2 Waterford 0-1: 5 mins – Waterford bounce back as Patrick Curran from Dungarvan converts a free.
Watch out for Murphy and Curran in this game, their marksmanship has been splendid so far this season.
Waterford goal by Adam Farrell!
Waterford 1-1 Kilkenny 0-2: 7 mins – Major boost for the Deise as Farrell bats to the net after terrific work by Stephen Bennett who shakes off the Kilkenny defence and sends a hand pass across for his teammate Farrell to finish.
Superb strength by Bennett to create that opening.
Temporary substitue on the Kilkenny team with Michael Kenny on for Liam Blanchfield.
Lovely interplay by Waterford forwards Adam Farrell and Patrick Curran but Farrell shoots wide under pressure from a tight angle.
A change on the Waterford side sees Conor Gleeson in as a blood sub for DJ Foran.
DJ Foran back on the Waterford team now wearing number 26 while Liam Blanchfield is back on for Kilkenny.
Waterford 1-1 Kilkenny 0-3: 11 mins – Alan Murphy on target again with a free for Kilkenny.
Waterford 1-1 Kilkenny 0-4: 13 mins – The teams are level thanks to Murphy’s accuracy from frees for Kilkenny.
Kilkenny 0-5 Waterford 1-1: 13 mins – Now Murphy extends Kilkenny’s lead with another pointed free.
What a terrific goal for Waterford from DJ Foran!
Waterford 2-1 Kilkenny 0-5: 15 mins – Magnificent strike to the net as Foran bounds through the defence, shakes off the Kilkenny cover and slams a shot to the top corner that comes back off the stanchion.
Waterford 2-1 Kilkenny 0-6: 16 mins – Murphy’s freetaking is keeping Kilkenny in touch as he punishes Waterford once more.
Waterford 2-1 Kilkenny 0-7: 17 mins – Again Waterford concede a free as Eoin Kenny is fouled and again Murphy obliges to slot over for Kilkenny.
Waterford 2-2 Kilkenny 0-7: 19 mins – Waterford edge back in front through a free by Patrick Curran.
Waterford 2-2 Kilkenny 0-8: 20 mins – Half a goal chance for Kilkenny as John Walsh fires in a shot that goalkeeper Gavin Power gets a touch to divert it over the bar.
Waterford 2-3 Kilkenny 0-8: 23 mins – The Deise go back in front with Curran grabbing his third point of the day from a placed ball.
Yellow card for Waterford wing-back Micheal Harney.
Waterford 2-4 Kilkenny 0-8: 27 mins – Curran on target again for the Deise from a ’65.
Waterford 2-4 Kilkenny 0-9: 28 mins – But Kilkenny fight back with a fine point from midfielder Niall Mullins.
Waterford 2-5 Kilkenny 0-9: 29 mins – Fine point for Waterford by Stephen Bennett.
Half-Time: Waterford 2-5 Kilkenny 0-9: And it’s the Deise who are ahead at the interval as they hold a two point advantage.
And we’re back underway here for the second-half.
Waterford 2-6 Kilkenny 0-9: 31 mins – Early Waterford point from Michael Kearney.
Waterford 2-7 Kilkenny 0-9: 32 mins – Stunning point by Waterford’s Patrick Curran from the Cusack Stand sideline under pressure.
Waterford 2-7 Kilkenny 0-11: 33 mins – Kilkenny cancel out those scores with point from Alan Murphy from a free and John Walsh from play.
Waterford 2-8 Kilkenny 0-11: 34 mins – Curran on target again for Waterford with a pointed free.
Waterford 2-8 Kilkenny 0-13: 37 mins – Just the minimum between them now as Murphy point s a free for Kilkenny and Blanchfield scores from play.
Michael Kenny is on for Niall Mullins on the Kilkenny team.
Waterford 2-9 Kilkenny 0-13: 39 mins – This game continues to ebb and flow with Waterford’s highly promising centre-back Austin Gleeson banging over a lovely point.
Waterford 2-10 Kilkenny 0-13: 40 mins – Now Mark O’Brien is on target for Waterford from midfield.
Cormac Curran is on for Waterford instead of Colm Roche.
Waterford 2-11 Kilkenny 0-13: 42 mins – Great score by Patrick Curran from a ’65 for Waterford.
Kilkenny sub with Ciaran Ryan replaces by Luke Scanlon.
Waterford 2-11 Kilkenny 0-14: 47 mins – Murphy points a free for Kilkenny to close the gap to three points.
Second yellow card for Waterford’s Shane Bennett and he’s been sent off.
Waterford 2-11 Kilkenny 0-15: 49 mins – And Murphy slots over another free for Kilkenny.
Uncharacteristic miss from a free from Murphy from the right wing.
Waterford substitution sees Conor Gleeson in for Adam Farrell.
Seven minutes left, Waterford still lead by two points.
Stephen Bennett with a point chance for Waterford but he doesn’t strike it cleanly and the ball tails wide.
Now Kilkenny have reduced to 14 men with Eoin Kenny dismissed. He fouled Austin Gleeson after the Waterford defender had made a terrific catch and charge forward.
Curran fails to convert the resultant free chance to the Deise.
So it’s 14 men v 14 men for the last five minutes but Waterford crucially hold a two point lead. Those first half goals by Adam Farrell and DJ Foran continue to separate the teams.
Another Waterford wide, the latest from Stephen Bennett.
Waterford 2-12 Kilkenny 0-15: 57 mins – Big point for Waterford from DJ Foran.
Waterford 2-12 Kilkenny 0-16: 57 mins – Kilkenny hit back with a point from Liam Blanchfield. Tense finale in store.
One minute of additional time to be played.
DJ Foran hits Waterford’s 11th wide of the game.
Now Patrick Curran strikes wide. Sean Hogan on for Waterford for DJ Foran.
Full-Time: Waterford 2-12 Kilkenny 0-16: The Deise prevail to reach the All-Ireland decider.
Leinster champions Kilkenny see their 2013 season draw to a close as Waterford claim victory. Big celebrations amongst the Waterford players and management on the pitch now. That’s all from us, thanks for joining us this afternoon.
