It’s an evening off for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and coming in to fill the live sporting void is the U21 hurling championship. Some of these Wednesday night ties in recent years have been classic encounters and there’s big potential for tonight’s two showdowns to live up to those high standards.

We’ve got the Leinster final between Galway and Wexford in Portlaoise while Cork entertain Tipperary in Páirc Uí Chaoimh in the Munster decider. Throw-in for both is 7.30pm.

Good wishes flowing in for the youthful participants from some of their county’s most decorated hurling names.

Here’s the team news from Páirc Uí Chaoimh. One change for Cork as Tim O’Mahony replaces Michael O’Halloran in attack. Tipperary are unchanged.

Cork

1. Ger Collins (Ballinhassig)

2. David Lowney (Clonakilty)
3. David Griffin (Carrigaline)
4. Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons)

5. Eoghan Murphy (Sarsfields)
6. Mark Coleman (Blarney)
7. Billy Hennessy (St Finbarr’s)

8. Chris O’Leary (Valley Rovers)
9. Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville – vice captain)

10. Robbie O’Flynn (Erin’s Own)
11. Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neills)
12. Shane Kingston (Douglas – captain)

13. Liam Healy (Sarsfields)
14. Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum)
15. Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields)

Tipperary

1. Ciarán Barrett – Clonmel Óg

2. Podge Campion – Drom-Inch
3. Brian McGrath – Loughmore-Castleiney
4. Killian O’Dwyer – Killenaule

5. Cian Flanagan – Newport
6. Paddy Cadell – JK Brackens
7. Dillon Quirke – Clonoulty-Rossmore

8. Ger Browne – Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams
9. Colin English (Capt.) – Fr. Sheehy’s

10. Jerome Cahill – Kilruane MacDonaghs
11. Paudie Feehan – Killenaule
12. Mark Kehoe – Kilsheelan-Kilcash

13. David Gleeson – Ballinahinch
14. Jake Morris – Nenagh Éire Óg
15. Lyndon Fairbrother – JK Brackens

Shane Kingston is part of the Cork attack tonight. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Here are the starting sides in Portlaoise.

Galway

1. Eanna Murphy (Tommy Larkins)

2. Ian O’Shea (Athenry)
3. Jack Fitzpatrick (Killimordaly)
4. Shane Bannon (Clarinbridge)

5. Fintan Burke (St. Thomas)
6. Mark Hughes (Liam Mellows)
7. Jack Grealish (Gort)

8. Thomas Monaghan (Craughwell)
9. Sean Loftus (Turloughmore)

10. Brian Concannon (Killimordaly)
11. Cian Salmon (Clarinbridge)
12. Cianan Fahy (Ardrahan)

13. Evan Niland (Clarinbridge)
14. Sean Bleahane (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
15. Kevin Cooney (Sarsfields)

Wexford

1. Jack Cushe (Naomh Eanna)

2. Shane Reck (Olygate-Glenbrien)
3. Darren Byrne (Blackwater)
4. Conor Firman (St Martin’s – captain)

5. Aaron Maddock (St Martin’s)
6. Damien Reck (Oylgate-Glenbrien)
7. Ian Carthy (Taghmon-Camross)

8. Garry Moloy (Naomh Eanna)
9. Rowan White (Glynn-Barntown)

10. Joe O’Connor (St Martin’s)
11. Rory O’Connor (St Martin’s)
12. Liam Stafford (Adamstown)

13. Stephen O’Gorman (Adamstown)
14. Rory Higgins (Rathnure)
15. Seamus Casey (Olygate-Glenbrien)

Galway hurling boss Tony Ward. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

So it’s a big opportunity for Cork and Tipperary to make their mark on the U21 grade tonight. Cork haven’t won a Munster title at this level since 2007, Tipperary more recently in 2010 but they’d still love to claim victory here after a tough year for their senior side.

In Leinster, Wexford lost last year’s final to Kilkenny but won three-in-a-row between 2013 and 2015. For Galway it’s a historic first Leinster final appearance in their maiden U21 campaign.

Change in the Cork team sees Seadnaidh Smyth in at midfield for Chris O’Leary.

Of course all four teams are through to the All-Ireland semi-finals under a new format for the U21 championship this year but silverware is still a big aim to claim.

Darragh Woods a late introduction to the Tipperary attack for Lyndon Fairbrother.

So we’re closing in on throw-in time for the two games, who’s your tip to triumph?

Galway 0-1 Wexford 0-0
Kevin Cooney opens the scoring for the Tribesmen.

Cork 0-1 Tipperary 0-1
Monster long-range free for Cork by Declan Dalton with Darragh Woods replying for Tipperary.
http://jrnl.ie/4108905t

Pre-match view of Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

Galway 0-2 Wexford 0-1
Garry Molloy gets Wexford off the mark before senior player Brian Concannon restores Galway’s advantage.

Penalty for Tipperary!

Yellow card for Cork defender David Griffin for his foul.

Cork goalkeeper Ger Collins saves the Tipperary penalty from Darragh Woods!

Big moment from Cork’s 2017 minor goalkeeper to help his side out and preserve his goalmouth.

Galway 0-4 Wexford 0-2
Meanwhile up in Portlaoise, there’s been a flurry of points. Mark Hughes and Cianan Fahy for Galway and before that Rory O’Connor for Wexford.

Cork 0-2 Tipperary 0-1
A sublime sideline cut for Cork by Mark Coleman, a few days after he hit a memorable score before half-time of Cork’s Munster senior final win over Clare.

Galway 0-5 Wexford 0-2
Senior player Brian Concannon is making his mark, a second point for him for Galway.

Pre-match view of O'Moore Park. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Galway 0-6 Wexford 0-3
Galway’s Sean Loftus and Wexford’s Seamus Casey swap points.

Cork 0-3 Tipperary 0-1
Lovely footwork by Jack O’Connor to create the space to point for Cork.

Cork 0-4 Tipperary 0-1
Shane Kingston ships a couple of heavy tackles but ploughs on for Cork and snaps over a point from a tight angle on the left wing.

Galway 0-7 Wexford 0-4
Free-takers on the mark, Seamus Casey for Wexford and Evan Niland for Galway, and there’s three in it with Galway in the ascendancy.

Cork 0-5 Tipperary 0-1
Good night for the home side so far as their reliable free-taker Declan Dalton converts and they’re four to the good. 12 minutes gone.

Cork's Darragh Fitzgibbon is challenged by Tipperary's Jerome Cahill. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

Goal for Galway from Thomas Monaghan!

Galway 1-7 Wexford 0-4
And that’s a big breakthrough for Galway with Craughwell club man Monaghan, a member of the senior panel, finding the net.

Goal for Cork from Robbie O’Flynn!

Cork 1-5 Tipperary 0-2
And Cork push clear on the scoreboard. Good work by Tim O’Mahony to set up Robbie O’Flynn with the Erins Own man finishing clinically. Woods pulls a point back for Tipperary.

Galway 1-7 Wexford 0-6
Decent response from Wexford with points from Seamus Casey and Rory O’Connor. Gap at four now.

Galway's Mark Hughes and Rory Higgins of Wexford. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Galway 1-8 Wexford 0-7
Points swapped at O’Moore Park, Cianan Fahy for Galway and then Casey on target for Wexford.

Tipperary can’t get a rhythm going in front of goal. Woods is wide from play, Brian McGrath short from a long-range free and David Gleeson’s shot is also short into the hand of goalkeeper Ger Collins.

Cork 1-7 Tipperary 0-2
No mistake from Shane Kingston and Declan Dalton for Cork at the other end, their points put them eight clear.

Cork 1-7 Tipperary 0-3
Ger Browne cuts the deficit Tipperary face with 22 minutes gone.

Sub: That’s a blow for Cork. Darragh Fitzgibbon comes off, presumably through injury, with Conor Cahalane, a brother of senior Damien, coming on.

Cork 1-8 Tipperary 0-3
Super sideline cut for Cork from Declan Dalton, they’re eight ahead now.

Cork 1-9 Tipperary 0-3
The speed of Jack O’Connor takes him clear of the Tipperary rearguard and he finishes neatly for a second point from play.

Sub: Craig Morgan on for Tipperary in defence instead of Podge Campion.

Bit of controversy in Portlaoise as Wexford think they’ve a goal through Rory Higgins but it’s disallowed.

Cork 1-10 Tipperary 0-3
Cork turning on the style with Liam Healy hitting over an exceptional point from the left wing.

Galway 1-8 Wexford 0-8
Rory O’Connor steps up for Wexford with a mighty point.

Galway 1-8 Wexford 0-9
It gets even better for Wexford as Casey splits the posts and now they’re only two adrift.

Galway 1-8 Wexford 0-10
A single point separating the teams now in Portlaoise as Stephen O’Gorman points.

Cork very close to a second goal. They create an overlap with Kingston feeding Dalton and after his first shot is blocked, he strikes a rebound that is cleared off the line by a Tipperary defender.

Galway 1-8 Wexford 0-11
And it’s level now as Casey fires over a point for Wexford.

Cork 1-10 Tipperary 0-5
A badly needed couple of points for Tipperary are supplied by Jerome Cahill and Ger Browne.

Wexford 0-13 Galway 1-8
Seven points without reply now for Wexford as scores supplied by Rowan White and Seamus Casey.

Cork 1-11 Tipperary 0-5
Dalton slams over a free for Cork deep into first-half injury-time.

Cork 1-12 Tipperary 0-5
Lovely interplay for Cork by Mark Coleman and Shane Kingston, the move culminates in Liam Healy pointing.

Half-Time: Cork 1-12 Tipperary 0-5

Half-Time: Wexford 0-13 Galway 1-8

No doubting Cork’s superiority in the first half, can Tipperary mount a revival? Wexford have finished the half strongly to take over in Portlaoise, but Galway are two adrift and there’s plenty to play for.

Action back under way for the second half.

Subs: Tipperary bring in Lyndon Fairbrother and Cian Darcy to their attack for the second-half action.

Cork 1-12 Tipperary 0-6
And an early score from a free for Fairbrother.

Goal for Cork from Jack O’Connor!

Cork 2-12 Tipperary 0-6
And that’s a big score for Cork, O’Connor finishing with aplomb after being picked out by Declan Dalton. 12 points in it after 33 minutes.

Tipperary’s Jerome Cahill with David Lowney of Cork. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

Galway's Shane Bannon and Rory O'Connor of Wexford. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Cork 2-14 Tipperary 0-7
Declan Dalton and Shane Kingston pop over points for Cork moments after Ger Browne scored for Tipperary.

Wexford 0-14 Galway 1-9
Evan Niland scores a free for Galway but Wexford reply through Joe O’Connor.

Jack O'Connor finishes to the net for @OfficialCorkGAA pic.twitter.com/dsxQqOA6G3

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 4, 2018

Wexford 0-15 Galway 1-9
And now Wexford have pushed three clear, thanks to a Stephen O’Gorman point.

Penalty for Wexford!

Wexford 0-16 Galway 1-9
Joe O’Connor is fouled but the Wexford penalty is saved, breaks kindly and Rory O’Connor snaps over a point.

Cork’s shooting gone a bit loose now, a few efforts gone astray. 13 points between the teams with 20 minutes of normal time left.

Yellow card for Cork defender Seadnaidh Smyth.

Cork 2-14 Tipperary 0-8
Fairbrother knocks over the free for Tipperary after that foul by Smyth.

Wexford 0-16 Galway 1-10
A Niland free helps Galway chip away at Wexford’s advantage.

Big goal chance for Tipperary as Cian Darcy smacks it across and Paudie Feehan’s handling sees the sliothar spill from his grasp in front of goal.

Wexford 0-16 Galway 1-12
Points for Galway by Niland and Monaghan cut the gap to one. Wexford in front but Galway are back in this now.

Goal for Wexford for Seamus Casey!

Cork 2-15 Tipperary 0-9
Points traded by Robbie O’Flynn for Cork and Lyndon Fairbrother for Tipperary.

Wexford 1-17 Galway 1-12
Five in it now as Rory O’Connor fires over a point for Wexford.

Daire Connery on for Cork as the match enters the final quarter in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Jack O'Connor celebrates hitting the net for Cork. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

Galway's Cian Salmon and Ian Carthy of Wexford. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

Cork 2-16 Tipperary 0-10
Tipperary pull another point back but then Tim O’Mahony scores for Cork and this match is drifting away from them.

Cork 2-16 Tipperary 0-11
That’s four from play now for Ger Browne for Tipperary, a bright spot on a difficult evening for them.

Wexford 1-17 Galway 2-12
It’s not over yet in Portlaoise! Sarsfields Kevin Cooney finds the back of the net and now there’s only two points between the teams.

A third goal for Galway!

Galway 3-13 Wexford 1-17
Evan Niland makes his mark for Galway with a 1-1 contribution and has turned this match on its head.

Cork 2-18 Tipperary 0-11
Points from Dalton and Conor Cahalane stretch Cork’s advantage. Just eight minutes of normal time left.

Cork 2-19 Tipperary 0-11
Super score by wing-back Eoghan Murphy for Cork.

Galway 3-13 Wexford 1-18
It’s a one point game again as Seamus Casey notches a score for Wexford.

Cork 2-20 Tipperary 0-11
Super team move for Cork, starting in defence with Conor Cahalane, involving Daire Connery, Robbie O’Flynn and culminating in Kingston rifling over another point.

Galway 3-14 Wexford 1-18
Fintan Burke points for Galway and there’s two in it again, in favour of the Tribesmen.

Sub: Cork lose another player through injury as Robbie O’Flynn comes off with Aaron Myers brought in.

Galway's Evan Niland and Damien Reck of Wexford. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

Subs: Cork bring in Chris O’Leary and Michael O’Halloran for Liam Healy and Declan Dalton.

Cork’s Tim O’Mahony on the attack. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

Cork 2-20 Tipperary 0-12
Jake Morris lofts over an excellent point but Tipperary haven’t managed to get their senior forward involved enough tonight.

Mark Coleman the star man in Páirc Uí Chaoimh tonight.

Galway 3-14 Wexford 1-19
A free from Seamus Casey brings Wexford within one as the match enters injury-time. Can they level it?!

Cork 2-21 Tipperary 0-13
Aaron Myers and Fairbrother trade points, Cork in complete control in injury-time.

14 wides for Cork this evening but they’ve put 2-21 on the board.

Goal for Tipperary!

Cork 2-21 Tipperary 1-13
Cork can’t clear their lines, it’s messy in defence and Tipperary avail with substitute Shane Neville booting home.

Cork 2-22 Tipperary 1-13
Long-range free pointed by Coleman for Cork.

Galway 3-15 Wexford 1-19
Niland taps over a free, Galway two to the good with just a couple of minutes left in injury-time!

Will we have some late drama from Wexford?

Seamus Casey points for Wexford to cut the gap to one again!

Full-Time: Cork 2-23 Tipperary 1-13

Cork are Munster U21 hurling champions for the first time since 2007!

A late Mark Coleman point rounded off an excellent night’s work for Cork.

Galway 3-16 Wexford 1-20
Niland fires over another free, is that the insurance score for Galway?

Galway 3-17 Wexford 1-20
And that could be it! Caulfield pushes Galway three clear.

Goal for Wexford to draw level with Galway!

Ian Carthy rescues Wexford with the goal! What a game!

Full-Time: Wexford 2-20 Galway 3-17

Last-gasp Wexford goal against Galway sends Leinster U21 final to extra-time.

The sides are back out on the field in O’Moore Park.

Galway 3-17 Wexford 2-21

63 mins – Seamus Casey sends Wexford ahead with a free.

Galway 3-17 Wexford 2-22

64 mins – Huge point by Rory Higgins!

Galway 3-18 Wexford 2-23

Seamus Casey hobbles off injured but Rory O’Connor takes over the free-taking duties and points. At the far end Cianan Fahy scores for Galway.

Galway 3-18 Wexford 2-24

69 mins – Another O’Connor free.

Half-time in extra-time: Galway 3-18 Wexford 2-24

Galway 3-18 Wexford 2-24

71 mins – The second half of extra-time is underway and Galway hit a wide through Conor Caulfield.

Galway 3-19 Wexford 2-25

77 mins – Joe O’Connor sends over a booming effort for Wexford!

Galway 3-20 Wexford 2-25

79 mins – Fahy sends over a Galway 65 to reduce the gap. A minute to go…

Galway 3-21 Wexford 2-25

80 mins – Fahy drills over a long range free. It’s a one-point game!

Goal for Galway!

FT – Galway 4-21 Wexford 2-26

Galway are champions after Bleahene’s last second winner! What a game.

So a dramatic evening of hurling which ends with Cork and Galway the champions as Tipperary and Wexford lose out. The All-Ireland semi-final line-up will see Cork face Wexford and Galway take on Tipperary on the August Bank Holiday weekend. Another great night for the U21 hurling grade! Thanks for joining our coverage.