It’s U21 hurling action all the way with the Bord Gáis All-Ireland championship final down for decision at 7pm with Clare facing off against Kilkenny. The U21B final has ended in victory for Roscommon and it was a gripping success by 3-17 to 3-16 over Kildare. Now the focus turns to the main attraction in Semple Stadium.

Here’s all you need to know about this evening’s game, which is a repeat of the 2009 final when Clare claimed a historic first success.

Here’s the Clare team for tonight’s match, unchanged from the side that defeated Antrim at the All-Ireland semi-final stage. It’s packed with senior stars like Patrick O’Connor, Seadna Morey, Colm Galvin, Tony Kelly and captain Conor McGrath. Check out our slideshow for more information on the Clare players.

CLARE U21H: Ronan Taaffe (Tubber); Paul Flanagan (Ballyea), David McInerney (Tulla), Killian Ryan (Ruan); Patrick O’Connor (Tubber), Conor Ryan (Cratloe), Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge); Colm Galvin (Clonlara), Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge); Tony Kelly (Ballyea), Padraic Collins (Cratloe), Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones); Cathal McInerney (Cratloe), Conor McGrath (Cratloe), Cathal O’Connell (Clonlara).

And here’s the Kilkenny team for the match, also unchanged from the side that got the better of Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. Wille Phelan, Richie Doyle, Cillian Buckley and Walter Walsh are their senior panelists. Check out our slideshow for further information on the Kilkenny players.

KILKENNY U21H: Dylan Walsh (Thomastown); Jason Corcoran (John Lockes), Willie Phelan (Dunamaggin), Brian Kennedy (St Lachtain’s); Luke Harney (Kilmacow), Richie Doyle (Barrow Rangers), Joe Lyng (Rower Inistioge); Geoff Brennan (St Patrick’s), Ollie Walsh (Dicksboro); Kevin Kelly (St Patrick’s), Padraig Walsh (Tullaroan), Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro); Walter Walsh (Tullogher-Rosbercon), John Power (Carrickshock), Ger Aylward (Glenmore).

Three years ago Clare defeated Kilkenny by 0-15 to 0-14 in the decider in Croke Park. Relive the closing moments of that game here.

YouTube Credit: rph1981

Kilkenny’s goalscoring abilities have been crucial to their progress this season and Clare must nullify the threats of John Power and Ger Aylward in that regard. Captain Kevin Kelly from St Patrick’s is another player to watch out for in the Cats forward line.

Clare’s defence has been impressive though, conceding only one goal to date this season when Tipperary’s John O’Dwyer found the net in the Munster final. Conor Ryan and Seadna Morey are defenders of note while Tony Kelly and Cathal O’Connell are amongst their forwards to watch up front.

The referee is Cork’s Diarmuid Kirwan while Kilkenny are managed by Richie Mulrooney and Clare’s joint bosses are Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor. We’re moments away from throw-in.

Kilkenny 0-1 Clare 0-0: 1 mins – A lightning start by Kilkenny with captain Kevin Kelly firing the ball over the bar.

Clare 0-2 Kilkenny 0-1: 2 mins – Brilliant response by Clare as Cathal McInerney and Cathal O’Connell raise white flags.

Clare 0-3 Kilkenny 0-1: 4 mins – Seadna Morey bursts forward from wing-back to land a tidy point.

Clare 0-3 Kilkenny 0-2: 5 mins – It’s been frenetic stuff so far with Padraig Walsh pulling a point back for Kilkenny.

Clare 1-3 Kilkenny 0-2: 6 mins – Goal for Clare from Cathal O’Connell.

Clare 1-5 Kilkenny 0-2: 8 mins – A superb start by Clare with Colm Galvin and Patrick O’Connor landing excellent points. The goal before that was created by the superb vision of Conor McGrath who picked out O’Connell on his own near goal and the Clonlara man kept his head to finish past the advancing Dylan Walsh.

Clare 1-5 Kilkenny 0-3: 9 mins – Kilkenny have been left reeling by that Clare scoring burst but Kevin Kelly grabs a vital point from a free in response.

Clare 1-5 Kilkenny 0-4: 11 mins – A stylish point by Walter Walsh helps Kilkenny cut the gap further.

Clare 1-6 Kilkenny 0-4: 12 mins – Clare are extremely quick to the breaking ball in attack and Cathal McInerney is the latest to profit as he grabs another point.

Clare 1-6 Kilkenny 0-5: 15 mins – Kilkenny are hanging in there with John Power offloading to Geoff Brennan for another point.

Clare have struck five wides as well so far but remain four points to the good.

Clare 1-6 Kilkenny 0-6: 18 mins – Kilkenny grab a point but it could so easily have been a goal. Walter Walsh charges through the Clare defence before unleashing a stinging drive that is brilliantly tipped over the bar by Clare net minder Ronan Taaffe. Kilkenny are growing in confidence though and coming back into contention after their early struggles.

Clare 1-6 Kilkenny 0-7: 20 mins – That’s a beautiful point by Kilkenny’s Kevin Kelly as he twists to evade the Clare defence and points off his left.

Clare 1-7 Kilkenny 0-7: 22 mins – Cathal O’Connell misses a Clare free from the sideline but then makes no mistake from a more favorable in front of the goal. Clare’s first point in ten minutes and one they needed to stem the tide of Kilkenny’s recovery.

Penalty for Kilkenny.

Clare 1-7 Kilkenny 1-7: 28 mins – And John Power lashes the ball powerfully to the net. The awarding of the penalty has to be questioned though as to whether David McInerney did foul Power.

Yellow card for Clare’s Shane Golden after scuffles break out around the midfield sector.

Goal for Kilkenny from Ger Aylward.

HALF-TIME: Kilkenny 2-7 Clare 1-7: What a finish to the half for Kilkenny as John Power launches a long ball forward and Ger Aylward displays his opportunism in front of goal to control the ball on the ground and flick a shot past Ronan Taaffe. That leaves the Cats ahead by three points ahead at the break, a major turnaround after they trailed by six points in the early stages. But they have got on top in key positions as Clare have only managed two points in the last 22 minutes of the half.

Here are the scorers from the first-half of today’s match.

KILKENNY U21H: John Power (1-0 pen), Ger Aylward 1-0 each, Kevin Kelly 0-3 (0-1f), Walter Walsh 0-2, Padraig Walsh, Geoff Brennan 0-1 each.
CLARE U21H: Cathal O’Connell 1-2 (0-1f), Cathal McInerney 0-2, Seadna Morey, Colm Galvin, Patrick O’Connor 0-1 each.

We’ll be back shortly with the second-half action.

The teams are back out on the pitch and we’re getting set for the second-half action.

Early second-half scoring chance for Clare goes astray as Tony Kelly’s effort from a free falls wide.

Kilkenny 2-7 Clare 1-8: 33 mins – An important score for Clare as Cathal O’Connell converts a close-range free.

Kilkenny 2-7 Clare 1-9: 35 mins – Clare cut the gap further with an outstanding point from the left wing by Aaron Cunningham who was under severe pressure from the Kilkenny rearguard.

Kilkenny 2-7 Clare 1-10: 37 mins – And now Clare have drawn level. Dylan Walsh was in possession but he fouled Cathal McInerney when coming out with the ball and after the free was awarded, Cathal O’Connell tapped the ball over the bar.

Clare 1-11 Kilkenny 2-7: 38 mins – This time O’Connell scores from play with his latest point confirming Clare’s powerful start to the second-half. They have recovered excellently from the concession of those goals before half-time. Kilkenny have brought on Martin Gaffney for Ollie Walsh.

Clare 1-12 Kilkenny 2-8: 39 mins – Ger Aylward steps forward to land a great point off his left for Kilkenny but Clare respond instantly with a wonderful solo effort by Cathal McInerney.

Clare’s start to this second-half has been excellent and they are dominating in key positions.

Cathal O’Connell wide with a long-range free effort for Clare, their shooting has let them down at times.

Clare 2-12 Kilkenny 2-8: 44 mins – Goal for Clare from Conor McGrath!

Clare 2-14 Kilkenny 2-8: 45 mins – Clare continue to dominate. McGrath and Shane Golden tap over points after McGrath blasted to the net moments previously from point-blank range. Clare will feel they should have been awarded a penalty before that for a foul by Dylan Walsh on Cathal McInerney but they have powered on and are now in command. Is there a response in Kilkenny?

Clare 2-15 Kilkenny 2-9: 47 mins – Clare are still in the ascendancy with O’Connell smashing over a free after Cathal McInerney was fouled to cancel out an earlier pointed free from Kevin Kelly for Kilkenny.

Clare 2-15 Kilkenny 2-10: 50 mins – Martin Gaffney is hauled down and Kevin Kelly snaps over another pointed free for Kilkenny.

Clare’s defence has tightened up considerably in the second-half and that has helped them fashion a five point lead with eight minutes remaining.

Clare 2-16 Kilkenny 2-10: 55 mins – Cathal McInerney has been extremely influential tonight and he’s just landed his fourth point of the game for Clare. Cathal Kenny onto the Kilkenny team for Padraig Walsh.

Clare 2-16 Kilkenny 2-11: 57 mins – The gap is down to five points as Kevin Kelly taps over a free for Kilkenny.

Clare 2-17 Kilkenny 2-11: 59 mins – Tony Kelly bangs over a long-range free for Clare as we approach the close of normal time. Dylan Walsh has just made a great save to deny Cathal O’Connell a goal. Niall Arthur is on for Padraic Collins in the Clare attack.

FULL-TIME: Clare 2-17 Kilkenny 2-11: Clare hold on to become All-Ireland U21 hurling champions for 2012 and claim only the second title in the county’s history at this level.

That is a remarkable triumph for Clare and a stunning second-half turnaround after trailing by 2-7 to 1-7 at half-time. They outscored Kilkenny by 1-10 to 0-4 in the second-half with their brand of smart possession hurling enabling them to overhaul the Cats.

Cathal O’Connell has been awarded the man-of-the-match award and that is fitting after he lead the way in attack. The Clonlara man follows in the footsteps of his brother Nicky who won an All-Ireland medal at this grade in 2009 while Cratloe’s Padraic Collins does likewise after his brother Sean was also part of the triumphant 2009 side.

It’s a success that will be cherished by Clare joint managers Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor, along with trainer Paul Kinnerk, after the disappointments they experienced at minor level in 2010 and 2011 as their efforts to claim an All-Ireland crown fell short. The bulk of this Clare squad also experienced disappointment those seasons but they have progressed admirably at U21 level this year with Conor McGrath and Patrick O’Connor managing to win their second All-Ireland medal at this level.

Here are the scorers from tonight’s match.

CLARE U21H: Cathal O’Connell 1-6 (0-5f), Cathal McInerney 0-4, Conor McGrath 1-1, Seadna Morey, Colm Galvin, Patrick O’Connor, Aaron Cunningham, Shane Golden, Tony Kelly (0-1f) 0-1 each.
KILKENNY U21H: Kevin Kelly 0-6 (0-4f), Ger Aylward 1-1, John Power 1-0 (1-0 pen), Walter Walsh 0-2, Padraig Walsh, Geoff Brennan 0-1 each.

That concludes our liveblog this evening as Clare celebrate an All-Ireland U21 hurling triumph. Thanks for joining us and for all your comments.