You’d scarcely believe we’re nearing the end of July but the weather aside, that can only mean one thing: the championship is heating up as we reach the business end of the summer.

This afternoon, it’s the turn of Galway and Cork as they continue their hunt for the Liam McCarthy Cup and we’re following every minute of it from Thurles.

Get in contact in the usual ways throughout; email ryan@the42.ie, comment below or use or various social media channels: Twitter or Facebook.

Throw-in is at 4pm.

It’s the type of day you wouldn’t put the dog out in and the rain continues to fall at Semple Stadium. Fortunately, these hardy Cork fans have come well equipped.

Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Galway sprung a surprise by handing Conor Whelan his first senior appearance. Anthony Cunnigham has included the 18-year-old in his half-forward line. Here’s how the Tribesmen will line-out:

Galway

1. Colm Callanan

2. Johnny Coen
3. John Hanbury
4. Padraig Mannion

5. Aidan Harte
6. Iarla Tannian
7. Daithi Burke

8. Andrew Smith
9. David Burke

10. Conor Whelan
11. Cyril Donnellan
12. Jonathan Glynn

13. Jason Flynn
14. Joe Canning
15. Cathal Mannion

Jimmy Barry-Murphy, meanwhile, has made just one change to his Cork side for this quarter-final showdown.

From the side that defeated Clare in the Round 2A qualifier, Alan Cadogan has dropped out with Bishopstown’s Shane O’Neill slotting in at right corner-back.

Cork

1. Anthony Nash (Kanturk)

2. Shane O’Neill (Bishopstown)
3. Brian Murphy (Bride Rovers)
4. Stephen McDonnell (Glen Rovers)

5. Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s)
6. Mark Ellis (Millstreet)
7. Cormac Murphy (Mallow)

8. Aidan Walsh (Kanturk)
9. Daniel Kearney (Sarsfields)

10. Brian Lawton (Castlemartyr)
11. Patrick Cronin (Bishopstown)
12. Bill Cooper (Youghal)

13. Conor Lehane (Midleton)
14. Seamus Harnedy (St. Ita’s)
15. Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers)

To whet your appetite ahead of throw-in, here’s a selection of our pre-match offerings:

• 10 classic memories from previous Cork and Galway hurling clashes
• 6 talking points ahead of Cork and Galway’s All-Ireland hurling quarter-final
• Race For Liam: The 6 teams bidding for All-Ireland hurling glory

The first quarter-final of the day has just finished with Waterford edging past Dublin 2-21 to 1-19. Fintan O’Toole’s match report from Thurles can be read here.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

The stage is clear for this afternoon’s headline act and we’re just a few minutes away from the action in Thurles. Which way do you see this one going?

Right, we’re all set. Both teams out on the pitch and the crowd are filing into Semple Stadium. This should be a cracker.

We’re off!

GOAL! Cork 0-0 Galway 1-0

Blistering start for Galway as Jonathan Glynn pierces through the Cork defence and fires home after just 52 seconds.

Cork 0-1 Galway 1-1

That was a moment of brilliance from Glynn and Jason Flynn follows it up with a point.

At the other end, Cork get themselves on the board as Patrick Horgan converts a free.

Cork 0-4 Galway 1-2

Cork have responded to that early setback as Conor Lehane, Seamus Harnedy and Daniel Kearney have reduced Galway’s lead to just a point.

Cork 0-4 Galway 1-5

Galway are being afforded acres of space and their forward line are making hay with three scores in quick succession.

Cork 0-5 Galway 1-5

Lovely score from Patrick Horgan – his first from play – as he drives forward and makes no mistake from range.

Cork 0-6 Galway 1-5

It’s been extremely open in the early stages here and that’s been conducive to an end-to-end, free-flowing encounter. Patrick Cronin keeps the scoreboard ticking over with another free for Cork.

Cork 0-6 Galway 1-6

There’s a goal between the sides again after Andrew Smith gets his name on the board.

Cork 0-6 Galway 1-6

Another brilliant catch and gather from Canning but after making the space for the shot, he fires his effort wide. That’s four wides now for Galway.

Cork 0-6 Galway 1-7

First real involvement for 18-year-old Conor Whelan and he shakes off the attention of a couple of red shirts to open his championship account.

Cork 0-6 Galway 1-7

Canning sends another effort wide, this time from a free and that’s very uncharacteristic from the three time All-Star. Galway are just turning the screw again though.

Cork 0-7 Galway 1-8

Anthony Cunnigham’s men are clicking into gear now but they’re letting Cork off the hook with some wayward shooting. At the other end, another Conor Lehane point ensures Cork remain firmly in touch.

Cork 0-8 Galway 1-8

This game is really ebbing and flowing and a brilliant piece of play from Daniel Kearney brings Cork within a goal again. He collected it on the right and split the posts from a relatively tight angle.

Glynn celebrates his goal after just 52 seconds. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Cork 0-10 Galway 1-9

Patrick Horgan and Jonathan Glynn exchange points and although Cork have been second best in the opening 20 minutes, they’re just two points behind.

Cork 0-12 Galway 1-10

We’ve got a one point game as wing-back Cormac Murphy and Brian Lawton reduce the Galway lead to the minimum.

Cork 0-12 Galway 1-12

33,130 inside Semple Stadium and they’re being treated to an absorbing game as Joe Canning scores his first point from open play after a succession of wides.

Cork 0-12 Galway 1-12

Just before those two points, Galway had a penalty appeal when Patrick Cronin hit the deck in the square but the officials weren’t interested.

Cork 0-12 Galway 1-14

Five minutes until the break and Galway are just beginning to convert their dominance onto the scoreboard. Their lead is now five as Mannion adds his second in as many minutes.

Here’s a closer look at Glynn’s opening goal.

Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Cork 0-13 Galway 1-15

Bit of a melee here and it results in a yellow card for Canning.

Cork 0-13 Galway 1-15

Mannion now has his fifth of the day, all of which have come from play. It’s been an exhibition of sharpshooting from the Galway forward.

We’ll have one minute of added time.

Cork 0-14 Galway 1-15

That could be a crucial score for Cork just before half-time as Harnedy gathers and turns to fire over from range. The difference is four as we approach the interval.

HALF-TIME: Cork 0-14 Galway 1-15

Blistering start for Galway through that Glynn goal and although Cork have remained in touch, it’s been the Tribesmen who have had the better of that opening half.

If truth be told, Anthony Cunnigham’s side should be further clear and have been guilty of spurning scoring opportunities.

Cork have looked good at one end and disjointed at the other with Galway’s potent forward-line picking the Rebels rearguard apart at will.

All in all, it should make for an exciting second-half.

Here’s the scorers from an entertaining half. All of Galway’s forwards have scored from play.

RTÉ RTÉ

The RTÉ panel feel Galway should have pulled clear already and Cork are fortunate to still be in this contest.

And we’re off again in Thurles.

Cork 0-15 Galway 1-15

Good start to the half for Cork as Harnedy adds another to his tally and the deficit is three. Jimmy Barry-Murphy has made a change at the break with Jamie Coughlan replacing Patrick Cronin.

Cork 0-15 Galway 1-17

Galway have also made a change with Joseph Cooney coming in for David Burke and he makes an instant impact with back-to-back points.

Cork 0-15 Galway 1-18

Brilliant from Glynn as he plucks the puck-out out of the sky and drives towards goal. It should be cleared by Cork but they are unable to avert the danger and Galway take full advantage through Cyril Donnellan.

Cork 0-16 Galway 1-18

Patrick Horgan keeps Cork moving in the right direction with a free and the gap is five.

Cork 0-16 Galway 1-18

Cormac Murphy hobbles off and is replaced by Lorcan McLoughlin.

Adam Davy Adam Davy

Cork 0-16 Galway 1-19

After bringing his tally of wides to 7 for the day, Joe Canning goes some way to making amends with a sweet side-line.

Cork 0-17 Galway 1-19

The Rebels aren’t going away just yet as Horgan converts another free.

Red card! 

Things go from bad to worse for Cork as Damien Cahalane is shown his second yellow card for a high tackle on Joseph Cooney.

Cork 0-17 Cork 1-20

Canning scores from the resulting free and is that now game over?

JBM's men are now really up against it. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Cork 0-18 Galway 1-20

15 minutes remaining and Galway’s lead stands at five. Can 14-men Cork pull off a miraculous comeback?

Cork 0-18 Galway 1-20

Cork have certainly sprung into life as Horgan forces a good save from Colm Callanan and then Paudie O’Sullivan points. Galway could yet rue those missed opportunities.

Incredible shift in momentum as Cork begin to pick-up the loose balls but they’ve just been stopped in their tracks…

Cork 0-19 Galway 1-22

Cathal Mannion and then Jonathan Glynn score successive points and suddenly Galway have some breathing space.

Cork 0-20 Galway 1-22

But Cork aren’t beaten yet as Alan Cadogan points.

Cork 0-20 Galway 1-23

That brief Cork fightback appears to be over as Jason Flynn extends Galway’s advantage to six points.

Cork 0-20 Galway 1-24

Galway look to seal the deal but Joseph Cooney is denied by Nash in the Cork goal from close range.

Goal! Cork 0-20 Galway 2-24

Conor Whelan caps a memorable debut with a goal to seal the win and Galway’s passage through to the All-Ireland semi-finals.

That was a lovely finish from 18-year-old Whelan as he capitalised on more sloppy Cork defend to fire low past Nash from an angle.

Cork 0-21 Galway 2-26

Points exchanged as we enter the dying embers. Many of the Corks fans have headed for the exit.

Galway 2-27 Cork 0-21

Cathal Mannion gets his seventh of the day and both sides are just going through the motions here. Sorry state of affairs for Cork.

FULL-TIME: Cork 0-22 Galway 2-28

That was a procession in the end as Galway ease into the All-Ireland semi-final to face Tipperary at Croke Park on 16 August.

Thanks for joining us this afternoon. Full report and reaction to follow on The42 this evening.