We’re getting set for the showdown in Thurles tonight as Tipperary face Clare in the 2013 Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21 hurling final.

Here’s the Tipperary team that’s named to start tonight:

TIPPERARY: Darragh Mooney (Eire Og Annacarty); Cathal Barrett (Holycross Ballycahill), Michael Breen (Ballina), Andrew Ryan (Toomevara); Joe O’Dwyer (Killenaule), Tomás Hamill (Killea), Seamus Kennedy (St. Marys Clonmel); Brian Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons), Justin Cahill (Kilruane MacDonagh’s); Tommy Heffernan (Eire Og Nenagh), Jason Forde (Silvermines), Niall O’Meara (Kilruane McDonaghs); Aidan McCormack (Thurles Sarsfields), Bill Walsh (Carrick Swan), Liam McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney).

And here’s the Clare team:

CLARE: Ronan Taaffe (Tubber); Paul Flanagan (Ballyea), David McInerney (Tulla), Jack Browne (Ballyea); Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge), Alan O’Neill (St. Josephs Doora Barefield), Stephen O’Halloran (Clarecastle); Colm Galvin (Clonlara), Tony Kelly (Ballyea); Peter Duggan (Clooney Quin), Padraic Collins (Cratloe), Aaron Cunningham (Wolfetones); Shane O’Donnell (Eire Og), David O’Halloran (Eire Og), Cathal O’Connell (Clonlara).

Clare are the reigning champions in this grade and their team is packed with players who will be in action for the senior squad that face Limerick on Sunday week in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Davy O’Halloran replaces Daire Keane in the only change on the Clare side.

And the action is under way.

Limerick’s Shane Hourigan is the referee for this game.

Tipperary 0-1 Clare 0-1: 2 mins – Jason Forde fires over a long range free to open Tipperary’s account but that is quickly cancelled out by a Cathal O’Connell point for Clare.

Tipperary 0-2 Clare 0-1: 5 mins – Forde converts another free for Tipperary after a strong run by Bill Walsh culminates in him being fouled.

Tipperary 0-2 Clare 0-2: 5 mins – Aaron Cunningham smashes over a brilliant point from the left wing for Clare to tie the teams.

Clare 0-3 Tipperary 0-2: 7 mins – O’Connell breaks through the Tipperary rearguard for a neat point.

Clare’s Cathal O’Connell (File Photo INPHO)

Long range effort from Colm Galvin as he gives it everything but the ball tails wide and Clare do not add to their tally.

Clare 0-3 Tipperary 0-3: 10 mins – Tight angle facing Jason Forde for Tipperary but he holds his nerve to shoot over another point from a free.

Clare 0-4 Tipperary 0-3: 12 mins – Brilliant catch from the puck out by Clare’s Peter Duggan and after he is fouled by Tipperary’s Seamus Kennedy, O’Connell steps up to land the free for Clare. Aaron Cunningham then shoots wide after getting out in front at full-forward for Clare.

Jason Forde off target with a long range free for Tipperary. It’s been a slow burning opening quarter so far.

Clare 0-5 Tipperary 0-3: 17 mins – Cathal O’Connell stretches Clare’s lead as he converts another free.

Goal for Clare from Peter Duggan!

Clare 1-5 Tipperary 0-3: 18 mins – Huge boost for Clare. Alan O’Neill smashes in a long range free from defence for Clare, Tipperary goalkeeper Darragh Mooney comes out to challenge for the high ball but it is the tall frame of Peter Duggan who rises highest to pull one handed to the empty net.

Clare 1-5 Tipperary 0-4: 19 mins – Tipperary bounce back at the other end with Forde firing over a free.

Clare 1-6 Tipperary 0-4: 20 mins – Tony Kelly tears through the centre for Clare and the referee judges that he was fouled by Justin Cahill, who is yellow carded for the offence. O’Connell slots over the free.

Clare 1-6 Tipperary 0-5: 21 mins – Again Forde hits back with a pointed free for Tipperary after Niall O’Meara is fouled by Seadna Morey.

Morey is booked for that and O’Meara has to go off with John McGrath coming on as a blood sub.

Clare 1-7 Tipperary 0-5: 23 mins – Lovely play by Clare as Padraic Collins sprays the ball across the pitch to his senior colleague Tony Kelly who finishes in style to point.

Clare not putting away Tipperary despite their control with O’Connell and Shane O’Donnell both skewing points chances wide.

Clare 1-7 Tipperary 0-6: 26 mins – Tipperary pull another point back through a Jason Forde free.

Tipperary are bringing in John McGrath, who was briefly on as a blood substitute earlier, for Tommy Heffernan as they seek to shake up their attack.

Clare 1-8 Tipperary 0-6: 28 mins – Stray puckout by Tipperary goalkeeper Darragh Mooney is intercepted by Padraic Collins and he weaves through before finishing over the bar off his left.

Clare 1-9 Tipperary 0-6: 29 mins – Clare hit over another point from O’Connell as he converts a placed ball after Davy O’Halloran is fouled. Tipperary protest about its validity yet the umpires judge it travelled between the posts.

Jason Forde fires over a pair of wides for Tipperary in succession but he is being watched extremely closely by the Clare defence who are crowding around the Premier danger man in numbers when he gets the ball.

Half-Time: Clare 1-9 Tipperary 0-6: And that’s how it stands at the break with Clare enjoying a six-point lead.

Peter Duggan’s goal for Clare the decisive score so far in this game.

Tipperary in contrast are struggling to make headway in attack. They’ve yet to score from play with Jason Forde converting six frees to keep them in the game. For a team who shot 2-18 against Limerick in the quarter-final and 5-19 against Cork in the semi-final, this has been a frustrating evening up front to date.

Scorers for Clare: Cathal O’Connell 0-6 (0-4f), Peter Duggan 1-0, Aaron Cunningham, Tony Kelly, Padraic Collins 0-1 each.
Scorers for Tipperary: Jason Forde 0-6 (0-6f).

The lights are on in Semple Stadium for the second-half of this match.

The second-half is under way. Tipperary nearly grab an early score, and their first from play, but Aidan McCormack’s attempt at landing a point strikes the post and goes wide.

Yellow card for Tipperary talisman Jason Forde.

Clare 1-10 Tipperary 0-6: 33 mins – Clare exert their authority early on with O’Connell on target from a placed ball after Forde had fouled Colm Galvin.

Clare 1-10 Tipperary 0-7: 35 mins – A monster free from distance is struck between the posts by Liam McGrath for Tipperary.

Colin O’Riordan is in for Tipperary instead of Justin Cahill.

Clare 1-11 Tipperary 0-7: 36 mins – A really classy point from the right wing by Colm Galvin and Clare are gone seven points clear.

Clare 1-11 Tipperary 0-8: 36 mins – But Tipperary respond to shoot over their first point from play tonight, courtesy of Liam McGrath.

Clare 1-12 Tipperary 0-8: 38 mins – Clever play from Clare as they work the ball out of defence through David McInerney and the move is capped off by an excellent point by Colm Galvin.

Clare 1-13 Tipperary 0-9: 39 mins – Cathal O’Connell on target with another free after a mistake by Tipperary defender Tomas Hamill lead to him fouling O’Connell. Niall O’Meara had earlier pointed for Tipperary.

Clare 1-14 Tipperary 0-9: 41 mins – And Shane O’Donnell fires over another point for Clare but they nearly grabbed a goal only for a superb block by Seamus Kennedy to deny Peter Duggan.

Tadhg Gallagher is into the Tipperary attack for Bill Walsh.

Goal for Tipperary from Jason Forde!

Clare 1-14 Tipperary 1-9: 45 mins – Tipperary are handed a lifeline. Niall O’Meara does excellently to gather possession and send a hand pass under pressure for Jason Forde to run onto and finish emphatically to the net.

Clare 1-15 Tipperary 1-9: 46 mins – But Clare hit back impressively with a lovely stylish point by Padraic Collins.

Clare 1-16 Tipperary 1-9: 47 mins – At the other end Clare look really sharp in attack. Shane O’Donnell offloads to Aaron Cunningham and he fires over a lovely point.

John Meagher is on for Tipperary instead of Brian Stapleton.

Tipperary fans not happy at a free being awarded against Liam McGrath when he caught the ball near goal but David McInerney defended stoutly and did not allow him through to goal.

Ten minutes left, Tipperary not out of it yet but Clare are certainly in control.

Yellow card for Clare’s Aaron Cunningham.

Goal chance for Tipperary after they break through with Colin O’Riordan passing to Liam McGrath but a brave block by David McInerney for Clare diverts the ball away for a ’65.

Clare 1-16 Tipperary 1-10: 52 mins – No mistake from Jason Forde as he slams over the ’65.

Huge drama in the Tipperary defence when Clare looked certain to find the net through O’Halloran but the ball is scrambled off the line. That would have been all over if the Banner had found the net.

Clare 1-17 Tipperary 1-10: 53 mins – They do raise a white flag through an assured strike by Tony Kelly.

Tipperary have strong claims for a penalty for a foul on Liam McGrath waved away.

Jamie Shanahan is on for Clare instead of David O’Halloran.

Blistering drive unleashed by Jason Forde but Ronan Taaffe saves at his near post. An important block by Clare.

Cathal Malone is on for Peter Duggan on the Clare team.

Michael O’Brien replaces club mate Aidan McCormack on the Tipperary team.

Clare substitute Cathal Malone is booked.

Penalty to Tipperary.

Niall O’Meara is hauled down by the Clare defence by Seadna Morey who is dismissed for a second booking.

Clare 1-17 Tipperary 2-10: 60 mins – Forde fires the ball low to the Clare net for his second goal of the night. But is it too late?

Full-Time: Clare 1-17 Tipperary 2-10: But Clare hold on to claim a four point win.

The Banner retain their title and will now advance to an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Galway on August 24th.

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