Good afternoon and welcome to The42′s live minute-by-minute coverage of this afternoon’s AIB All-Ireland club senior football semi-finals.

It’s the final step on the road to Croke Park but only two teams will still be standing come St Patrick’s Day.

Later this evening, we’ll see the kingpins of Crossmaglen Rangers go up against Castlebar Mitchels but first, it’s Clonmel Commercials against Ballyboden St Enda’s.

Throw-in is at 4.30pm.

While you’re waiting for throw-in, here’s a little bit of reading from earlier this week:

• Ballyboden’s secret weapon? The sprint coach directing their fitness program from China
• ‘I’d my head in my hands, thinking “What am I after doing?”’ – Quinlivan’s black card scare

Neither of these sides have been here before, having clinched first provincial titles before Christmas. The time for celebrating is long over though and both have their sights set now on an All-Ireland title.

Ballyboden are slight favourites with the bookies but Clonmel are well used to the underdog tag at this stage. After toppling Nemo Rangers in that fairytale Munster final, they’ve nothing to fear.

Of course, the biggest test for all four sides is how they have managed the two-month break. Quite often, that will determine who has the edge on semi-final day.

Earlier this week, we asked you who would go all the way and lift the All-Ireland title in five weeks’ time.

There’s a difference of opinion, to put it mildly…

1 min – Boden straight onto the front foot as Daniel Davey pumps the ball towards the full forward line but Clonmel are alert enough to deal with it.

TEAM NEWS: One change for Boden — Aaron Waters in for Stephen O’Connor at wing-back

Ballyboden St Enda’s

1. Paul Durcan

2. Bob Dwane
3. Stephen Hiney
4. Shane Clayton

18. Aaron Waters
6. Darragh Nelson
7. Robbie McDaid

8. Michael Darragh Macauley
9. Declan O’Mahony

10. Darren O’Reilly
11. Colm Basquel
12. Daniel Davey

13. Sam Moloney
14. Conal Keaney
15. Andrew Kerin

Clonmel Commercials

1. Jack McDonald

2. Fergal Condon
3. Donal Lynch
4. Jamie Peters

5. Danny Madigan
6. Séamus Kennedy
7. Kevin Fahey

8. Jack Kennedy
9. Aldo Matassa

10. Luke Moore
11. Ian Fahey
12. Jason Lonergan

13. Kevin Harney
14. Michael Quinlivan
17. Ian Barnes

THROW IN: We’re underway in Portlaoise

4 mins – We’re not even five minutes in and this is already shaping up to be a very tactical battle.

Paul Durcan tries to pick out a blue jersey but it’s overhit and bounces out over the line.

7 mins — Ballyboden 0-1 Clonmel 0-0: Free to Ballyboden and Andrew Kerin makes no mistake to give the Dubliners a lead.

5 mins – It’ll be interesting to see how Clonmel use Michael Quinlivan today. He does really well to tap down a high ball to Ian Fahey but when it breaks to Séamus Kennedy, his shot drifts left and wide without troubling Durcan.

10 mins – Another bad, bad wide from Ballyboden. Colm Basquel showed great drive to get back and dispossess Seamus Kennedy, and after busting a lung to get forward, Stephen Hiney sets up Conal Keaney. Keaney’s shot is off the mark.

8 mins – Daniel Davey has enough space to get his shot off but he snatches at it and it drifts across the face of the Clonmel goal and wide.

11 mins — Ballyboden 0-1 Clonmel 0-1: And now it’s Clonmel’s turn to a hit a wide, although Aldo Matassa was under a lot of pressure as he took aim from out near the sideline.

Actually, Matassa was hit late by Aaron Waters as he shot and it’s a free to Clonmel which Barnes points. All square.

9 mins – Smashing sequence of play from Boden with Keaney, Macauley and O’Reilly all getting involved but when O’Reilly takes on the shot from a scoreable position, it’s another wide.

12 mins — Clonmel 0-2 Ballyboden 0-1: Jack Kennedy points from distance and Clonmel lead for the first time.

15 mins — Ballyboden 0-2 Clonmel 0-2: All square again as Kerin points.

18 mins — Ballyboden 0-3 Clonmel 0-2: Another easy free for Ballyboden, and Kerin will point those all afternoon. The Dublin champions edge back in front.

21 mins – Patient build-up by Clonmel as they work the ball back in front of the Ballyboden goal, trying to find space. Luke Moore decides to take the shot on from the left but he can’t steer it on target.

22 mins — Ballyboden 0-4 Clonmel 0-2: That’s Boden’s first score from a man not named Andrew Kerin — Sam Moloney splits the posts from 25 metres out.

27 mins – Everywhere Michael Quinlivan goes, Stephen Hiney is on him like glue and the Boden defender does well to force his marker wide and away from goal as he chased a nice pass from Jack Kennedy.

24 mins – Brilliant determination by Conal Keaney to hold on to the ball, and then brilliant vision by Darren O’Reilly to pick out the kick pass to Daniel Davey in space. Davey’s shot drifts wide though — some very questionable shooting from both sides in this first half.

Conal Keaney battles past Jamie Peters and Kevin Harney Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

28 mins — Ballyboden 0-4 Clonmel 0-4: Smashing football from Clonmel. Kennedy picks out Kevin Fahey who drops a pass in front of goal, where Quinlivan has the jump on Hiney this time. He turns and points to draw Clonmel level.

25 mins — Ballyboden 0-4 Clonmel 0-3: Clonmel run at the Boden defence and it pays dividends. Kevin Fahey pops the ball to Kevin Harney who makes no mistake.

30 mins – Yellow for Michael Darragh Macauley, and Ian Barnes will have a chance to edge Clonmel in front before the break.

Seamus Kennedy also goes into the referee’s notebook as we approach half time.

30+1 mins — Clonmel 0-5 Ballyboden 0-4: No mistake for Barnes and Clonmel will lead at the break.

Half Time: Clonmel Commercials 0-5 Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-4

That was a bit ragged at times from both sides, but there’s no denying that Clonmel finished the stronger of the two sides.

Back in five.

Michael Darragh Macauley is challenged by Jack Kennedy Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

SECOND HALF: We’re back underway — who will be going to Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day?

34 mins – First change for Boden as Ryan Basquel comes in to replace Daniel Davey.

32 mins – Early chance for Ian Barnes to stretch Clonmel’s lead but he drops his free short and Boden escape without penalty.

35 mins – Paul Durcan comes all the way up to take a free from the 45 but he doesn’t get the clean strike he needs and it’s short, wide, and everything in between.

37 mins – Michael Darragh Macauley is a man on a mission at the moment, driving hard at the Clonmel defence but the Tipp men are disciplined enough to crowd him and dispossess without giving away a free.

38 mins — Clonmel 0-5 Ballyboden 0-5: Conal Keaney takes over free-taking duties temporarily and points the equaliser.

41 mins – Keaney goes into the referee’s book.

39 mins – Big appeal from Michael Quinlivan as Paul Durcan catches a bouncing ball right on his line and is nudged backwards before passing the ball away. The umpires aren’t interested in his pleas.

43 mins — Clonmel 0-7 Ballyboden 0-5: Michael Quinlivan adds a free

46 mins – Ryan Basquel kicks another wide for Boden; the Dubs really need cooler heads if they’re going to force their way back into this. They only have one point in the last 24 minutes of play.

42 mins — Clonmel 0-6 Ballyboden 0-5: Lovely exchange between Jamie Peters and Ian Barnes, and Barnes curls over a point to send Clonmel back in front.

45 mins — Clonmel 0-8 Ballyboden 0-5: Clonmel starting to turn the screw here and after Kerin kicks a wide — Boden’s eighth of the day — Jack Kennedy comes down the other end and fires over another fine point. They’re three up now.

48 mins — Clonmel 0-9 Ballyboden 0-6: Another beautiful passage of play yields another fine Clonmel scores. Seamus Kennedy breaks from the back and picks out Barnes with the boot. He finds Jason Lonergan coming off his shoulder, and the wing-forward points.

47 mins — Clonmel 0-8 Ballyboden 0-6: And no sooner than I have it typed, that scoreless streak comes to an end — Conal Keaney points another free from out right to make this a two-point game.

50 mins – Boden aren’t being given a moment’s space when they go to shoot and again, Sam Moloney fires wide — their 10th. It’s his last action as he’s replaced by Sean Gibbons.

56 mins — Clonmel 0-9 Ballyboden 0-7: Macauley ships off to Kerin and he points to make it a two-point game. There’s still time…

52 mins – Eight minutes to play but nobody knows better than Clonmel that a game can turn on a single moment. Remember the drama against Nemo?!

57 mins – Clonmel haven’t scored in nearly nine minutes now. How they’d love a score to settle the nerves…

53 mins — RED CARD! Declan O’Mahony is sent off for a high tackle on Jason Lonergan and, judging by the replay, he can have no complaints. Boden down to 14 and their All-Ireland chances are hanging by a thread.

58 mins – Free in to Boden…

59 mins – Keaney misses it. What a massive let-off for Clonmel!

60 mins – Into the last minute of the 60

60+3 mins — Clonmel 0-10 Boden 0-9: One last free for Boden. Kerin points but will they have time to get the ball back?

60+1 mins — Clonmel 0-9 Ballyboden 0-8: Colm Basquel points in the first of three additional minutes. We’re in for a nailbiting finish.

60+2 mins — Clonmel 0-10 Ballyboden 0-8: Jason Lonergan! Clonmel two up again.

ALL SQUARE! Darragh Nelson equalises for Boden!

What unbelievable drama at the death in Portlaoise as Boden win the final kickout and captain Darragh Nelson shows incredible leadership to take on the shot and equalise.

Extra-time to follow. Just let me catch my breath.

FULL TIME: Clonmel Commercials 0-10 Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-10

We’re hearing that throw-in in the second semi-final between Crossmaglen and Castlebar has been pushed back to 6.30pm because of the extra-time to be played in Portlaoise.

This will be worth watching again later:

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4 mins – A reminder that both sides are back to their full complement of 15 for extra time, although Clonmel have lost their star forward Quinlivan.

EXTRA TIME: We’re up and running.

1 min ET — BLACK CARD! Quinlivan’s gone for Commercials. What a blow that is!

2 mins ET — Ballyboden 0-11 Clonmel 0-10: Kerin points a free and having trailed deep into injury time, Boden now lead.

5 mins ET – Stephen Hiney tries his luck but his shot is left and wide. If Boden had brought their shooting boots with them today, they’d be miles out of sight already.

HALF TIME ET: Ballyboden 0-12 Clonmel 0-10

7 mins ET – Ryan Basquel tries to pirouette his way through the Clonmel defence but ends up turning over possession. Still just that single Kerin score so far in extra time.

10 mins — Ballyboden 0-12 Clonmel 0-10: Clonmel concede another free and Kerin doesn’t need to be asked twice.

With Quinlivan watching from the sideline, has this slipped away from Clonmel?

SECOND HALF ET: We’re back underway for the last 10 minute — have Clonmel got anything left or is their fairytale about to end?

13 mins ET — Ballyboden 0-13 Clonmel 0-10: The referee plays advantage but Ballyboden don’t need it and Ryan Basquel points to stretch their lead to three. Clonmel look to be out on their feet.

14 mins ET – Tough angle for Keaney as he lines up a free and he sends it wide. For as long as Clonmel are within a score, they’ll hang on to hope of a miracle.

16 mins ET – Boden bear down on the Clonmel goal but the Tipp men hold firm and do brilliantly to force Keaney into a turnover without giving away a free. It’s at the other end they need a spark though.

20 mins – Black card for Kevin Harney and what was so nearly a historic afternoon for Clonmel is about to peter out into disappointment.

17 mins ET — Ballyboden 0-14 Clonmel 0-10: That might be that! Keaney points another and Boden lead by four. Clonmel haven’t scored at all in extra time.

20 mins ET — Ballyboden 0-15 Clonmel 0-10: Keaney points the free for good measure.

Michael Darragh Macauley, who has been named man of the match, is shown a black card as the final seconds tick away.

FT AET: Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-15 Clonmel Commercials 0-10

Thanks for reading — you can follow all the action from Castlebar v Crossmaglen here >