Afternoon all and welcome to today’s live coverage of the All-Ireland SHC semi-final.
Due to an accident on the M7, which has caused massive traffic delays for supporters from both counties, throw-in has been delayed until 5.30pm.
Here’s how the teams are named to start:
Waterford
1. Shaun O’Brien (De La Salle)
2. Ian Kenny (Ballygunner), 3. Conor Prunty (Abbeyside), 4. Shane McNulty (De La Salle)
5. Calum Lyons (Ballyduff Lower), 6. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart), 7. Kieran Bennett (Ballysaggart)
8. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater), 9. Peter Hogan (Ballygunner)
10. Jack Fagan (De La Salle), 11. Jack Prendergast (Lismore), 12. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart)
13. Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner), 14. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion), 15. Patrick Curran (Dungarvan)
Limerick
1. Nicky Quaid (Effin)
2. Sean Finn (Bruff), 3. Dan Morrissey (Ahane), 4. Barry Nash (South Liberties)
5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), 6. Declan Hannon (Adare) (capt), 7. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry)
8. William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsiagh), 9. Darragh O’Donovan (Doon)
10. Gearoid Hegarty (St. Patrick’s), 11. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell), 12. Tom Morrissey (Ahane)
13. Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), 14. Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon), 15. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
More information on the M7 incident that caused the game to be delayed:
Some pre-game reading for you:
Limerick are unchanged while Waterford make one late change. Conor Gleeson replaces Patrick Curran. There’s a good chance Gleeson will go back and man-mark Cian Lynch.
It’s prediction time, who do you fancy to prevail today?
Poll Results:
Limerick 0-2 Waterford 0-0
2 mins – Cian Lynch and Seamus Flanagan give Limerick the perfect start.
Limerick 0-2 Waterford 0-1
3 mins – Kieran Bennett lands one from distance in response. Waterford are playing with seven defenders as Conor Gleeson marks Cian Lynch with Shane Bennett sweeping.
Limerick 0-3 Waterford 0-1
3 mins – Gillane stretches the Limerick lead to two from a free.
Limerick 0-3 Waterford 0-2
7 mins – Austin Gleeson gets his first of the day.
Limerick 0-3 Waterford 0-2
9 mins – Barry Nash has a shot at the posts but it’s ruled wide by Hawk-Eye.
Limerick 0-4 Waterford 0-2
11 mins – Another wide from Waterford, this time from a Stephen Bennett free. At the far end Gearoid Hegarty is fouled and Gillane applies the finish. It’s Limerick’s first score since the fourth minute.
Limerick 0-4 Waterford 0-3
16 mins – The Deise reply through Stephen Bennett. From the puck-out Morrissey is fouled but Gillane puts the free wide.
Limerick 0-4 Waterford 0-3 – Water break
Limerick 0-4 Waterford 0-4
19 mins – Austin Gleeson curls one over to draw Waterford level.
Limerick 0-6 Waterford 0-4
21 mins – Seamus Flanagan takes a brilliant first touch and slots it over. Moments earlier Gillane flashed a goal chance wide. Limerick are starting to get on top here.
Limerick 0-7 Waterford 0-4
22 mins – Hegarty puts over his first score of the day. He’s gone to centre-forward with Cian Lynch moving to the flank. Limerick have outscored Waterford 0-3 to 0-1 since the water break.
Limerick 0-7 Waterford 0-4
23 mins – Peter Casey is involved as Flanagan scores his third of the game. He’s in flying form so far.
Limerick 0-9 Waterford 0-4
27 mins – A long diagonal ball is won by Flanagan, who’s fouled. Gillane converts the free from a tight angle.
Limerick 0-10 Waterford 0-4
28 mins – Waterford are turned over and Diarmaid Byrnes sallies up the field to stick one over.
Limerick 0-10 Waterford 0-5
28 mins – Hutchinson gets a badly needed score for Waterford after six in succession from Limerick.
Excellent play from Limerick finished in a nice point from Seamus Flanagan in the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Semi Final v @WaterfordGAA #GAANOW pic.twitter.com/3NSIdH9SZP
— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 7, 2021
Limerick 0-11 Waterford 0-5
31 mins – Lynch sets up Casey for a score. Limerick’s full-forward line have all scored now.
Limerick 0-12 Waterford 0-5
31 mins – Lynch fights to win a ball on the deck and extends Limerick’s lead to seven.
Limerick 0-13 Waterford 0-6
34 mins – Stephen Bennett replies from a free with a much-needed score for Liam Cahill’s side.
Limerick 0-13 Waterford 0-7
35+2 mins – Gleeson with another for Waterford.
Limerick 0-14 Waterford 0-7
35+3 mins – William O’Donoghue lands one from midfield to stretch the lead to seven.
Limerick 0-15 Waterford 0-7
35+3 mins – Lynch adds another, again set-up by Casey.
Limerick 0-15 Waterford 0-7 – HT
Limerick 0-16 Waterford 0-7
36 mins – Hegarty to Morrissey and Limerick start the second period with another score.
Some action from the first-half:
Limerick 0-17 Waterford 0-7
43 mins – Flanagan adds another after some great work-rate from Morrissey and a fine cross field ball. The lead is ten. Waterford have introduced Darragh Lyons and Mikey Kiely for Peter Hogan and Jack Prendergast.
Limerick 0-18 Waterford 0-8
44 mins – Stephen Bennett scores his third of the game, but Gillane responds immediately at the far end.
Limerick 0-18 Waterford 0-9
44 mins – Bennett puts over a free from a tight angle. We’re at double scores now.
Limerick 0-18 Waterford 0-10
44 mins – Big score from Callum Lyons for the Deise.
Limerick 0-18 Waterford 0-11
49 mins – Hutchinson spins away and puts it over the bar.
Limerick 0-19 Waterford 0-12
50 mins – Bennett’s free reduces the gap to six. Limerick’s ten-point lead has been slowly whittled away, but Waterford really need a goal or two to really threaten them. Byrnes stops the rot with a long range free for Limerick.
SAVE! Nickie Quaid denies a goal Gleeson with a good save.
Limerick 0-20 Waterford 0-14
50 mins – Bennett with a free after Barron was fouled. Callum Lyons tags on another to reduce the gap to six.
GOAL! Aaron Gillane rattles the back of the Waterford net.
Limerick 1-20 Waterford 0-14
54 mins – Gillane’s goal leaves Limerick nine clear by the second water break.
Limerick 1-21 Waterford 0-14
56 mins – Kyle Hayes is fouled as he strikes the ball and Gillane does the rest from the free.
RED CARD! Peter Casey is sent off for Limerick.
Aaron Gillane scores an unstoppable GOAL for @LimerickCLG v @WaterfordGAA in the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final #GAANOW pic.twitter.com/nefOpfL4rG
— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 7, 2021
Appears to have been a headbutt that Peter Casey was sent off for.
SAVE! Jamie Barron is denied a goal after a stunning save from Quaid.
Limerick 1-22 Waterford 0-14
63 mins – Gillane feeds Morrissey and he stretches Limerick’s lead to 11. It’s the same margin they won last December’s All-Ireland final by.
Limerick 1-22 Waterford 0-14
64 mins – Barron responds with a point for the Deise. Gillane shoots wide from the next play.
Limerick 1-23 Waterford 0-15
67 mins – Nine points in it now as we approach the finale.
CHANCE! Waterford go close to hitting the net but a combination of Quaid and Limerick defenders manage to get it clear.
Limerick 1-23 Waterford 0-17
72 mins – Gleeson fetches a high delivery and drills it over.
Limerick 1-24 Waterford 0-17
73 mins – Byrnes lands a long-range point from a free.
Limerick 1-25 Waterford 0-17
74 mins – Morrissey strokes one over from the flank.
Limerick 1-25 Waterford 0-17 – FT
Limerick are into the All-Ireland final.
