FULL-TIME Waterford 1-24 Cork 0-17 

The Déise are back. Derek McGrath has masterminded a national league success with a hugely impressive 10-point win over their Munster rivals.

Waterford 1-24 Cork 0-17 Patrick Horgan nails another one and there’s a minute or so left on the clock. As I type Tom Devine adds another. JBM’s side look to have thrown their hat at this.

Sorry for the dip in coverage – we’ve had some technical issues. 

Waterford 1-22 Cork 0-15 Sorry for the dip in coverage – we’ve had some technical issues. (Someone typed Google into Google)

In the meantime, Waterford have wrapped this up. Damien Cahlane has come on for Cork in place of Aidan Ryan. Pauric Mahony has now hit 11 points so far and Kevin Moran lofted over a lovely point.

Brian O’Halloran was introduced by Derek McGrath to replace Colin Dunfort.  Conor Lehane hit the bar with a great effort and then popped the rebound over the bar.

And crucially, Tom Devine saw his effort land into the net and that wraps it up.

Waterford 0-17 Cork 0-12 Conor Lehane gets a much needed point after good work from Luke O’Farrell after his introduction. Maurice Shanahan responds before Seamus Harndey points.

Cork change: Luke O’Farrell on for Rob OShea.Brian Lawton for Aidan Walsh.

Waterford 0-16 Cork 0-10 Pauric Mahony scores from play to send up a massive cheer from the Waterford supporters.

Waterford 0-15 Cork 0-10 Pauric Mahony adds his seventh and then eighth points of the day. No bother, he hasn’t put a foot wrong.

Cork subs are being sent to warm up in the rain.

Waterford 0-13 Cork 0-10 The rain is coming down as Aidan Walsh opens his account for the day at last.

Waterford 0-13 Cork 0-9 Conor Lehane raises a green flag before Stephen Bennett  again answers for Waterford. This is nip and tuck since the restart.

Waterford 0-12 Cork 0-8 Yellow card for Austin Gleeson for a wearing the hurley around Patrick Horgan. The Glen man sends the subsequent free over before Pauric Mahony responds with a free of his own.

The second half has thrown in. Finish that cornetto.

Great GIF of that Stephen O’Keeffe save in the first half, from Balls.ie:

Cork selector Johnny Crowley is talking to Pat McAuliffe on RTÉ Radio. He admits the Rebels aren’t playing particularity well and they’ll need to up the tempo in the next period.

Dan Shanahan meanwhile says Waterford are working harder than Cork and if they continue that they should get over the line. “We’ve nothing won here though,” he admits.

Waterford 0-11 Cork 0-7 Pauric Mahony adds a late free to send the sides in four points apart.

What did you make of that then?

Waterford 0-10 Cork 0-7 Bill Cooper from Youghal adds one for the Leesiders.

Waterford 0-10 Cork 0-6 Pauric Mahony takes the Déise to double figures and makes it a four-point game again with less than a minute to half time.

Waterford 0-9 Cork 0-6 Three points in it again with five minutes to the break after another Pa Horgan free splits the posts.

Waterford 0-9 Cork 0-5 Austin Gleeson steamed up the wing passed a load of red jerseys then hit a lovely score off his right over the bar. Cork needed someone to send him over the line though.

Waterford 0-8 Cork 0-5 An-scór from Déise midfielder Jamie Barron from long-range.

Pa Horgan’s missed a free, unusually, meanwhile.

Waterford's Kevin Moran and Austin Gleeson tackle Rob O'Shea of Cork. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Waterford 0-7 Cork 0-5 This is better from Cork at last. Rob O’Shea scores his first point of the afternoon. Very good score.

What a save from Stephen O’Keeffe in the Waterford goal! Seamus Harnedy went for goal but was denied by a diving bock that has the Déise fans out of their seats.

Waterford 0-7 Cork 0-4 Cork get their first score from play. Conor Lehane looked to have sight on goal but when the opportunity seemed to go he knocked it over the bar.

JBM is looking pensive on the sideline and well he might; Cork have yet to score from play after 17 minutes.

Waterford 0-7 Cork 0-3 Kevin Moran lands a monster point for Waterford who are flying.

Waterford 0-5 Cork 0-3 Glen marksman Horgan sent over another free before Austin Gleeson raised a white flag of his own. JBM has made that sunstitution and Cadogan will be in a race to be fit for this championship rematch in five weeks’ time.

In fact Paudie O’Sullivan is going to come on for Alan Cadogan it looks like.

Waterford 0-4 Cork 0-2 Brick Walsh launches over a lovely score from midfield.

Waterford 0-3 Cork 0-2 Pa Horgan tacks on another free

Waterford 0-3 Cork 0-1 Patrick Horgan opens his account with a free  and gets Cork up and running after five minutes.

Waterford 0-3 Cork 0-0 Austin Gleeson hits a lovely sideline ball across the field and Maurice Shanahan eventually opens his account. Cork look off the pace at this early remove. JBM warned against this sluggish start.

Waterford 0-2 Cork 0-0 A poor enough Anthony Nash puck out ultimately saw Mahoney adding to his tally. They look to have settled into a rhythm already.

Waterford 0-1 Cork 0-0 It’s first blood to the Déise through the sharpshooting Pauric Mahoney.

We’re up and running at Semple Stadium. Sure, where would ya be?

The teams are parading around Tom Semple’s field on the proverbial perfect day for hurling. Let’s do this.

Couple of changes to the Waterford XV according to Peter Sweeney: ”22 Stephen Bennett comes into midfield for Tom Devine and 21 Maurice Shanahan starts in place of Brian O’Halloran in the full-forward line.”

JBM speaking to TG4 in the context of last week’s game of two halves against the Dubs: “We’re well aware we need to be far, far better from the start otherwise we’ll be chasing a very good Waterford team and we won’t be able to chase that down.”

The teams are out at Semple Stadium with the Waterford side warming up at the town end with the Rebels going through their paces at the Killinnan end. 12 minutes or so to throw in.

Galway have beaten Cork in the camogie, despite an admirable fightback form the Leesiders. Here’s how that unfolded at Semple.

Stephen Molumphy is on RTÉ Radio with Jackie Hurley insisting all the pressure’s on Jimmy Barry-Murphy and Cork.

Joe Deane doesn’t expect any shadow boxing this afternoon despite the fact that the sides will meet in five weeks or so again.

‘There’s a cup to be won today and both teams will want to win it,” says the Killeagh man from behind a yellow helmet.

How do you see it playing out?

Some pre-game reading? The digital equivalent to reading the programme before throw-in – these talking points on your app:

Including, this, by GAA editor Fintan O’Toole, on Cork’s defensive make-up:

Jimmy Barry-Murphy lauded his Cork players for their character in fashioning an improbable comeback in their semi-final against Dublin. But he wasn’t happy that they got themselves into such bother in the first place, having to retrieve a 12-point deficit.

The amount of scores Cork are conceding is a problem. They’ve conceded six goals in their seven league games to date but it’s the average of 20 points per game that they’ve shipped which is the greater concern. Waterford may have been operating in Division 1B but have only conceded an average of 13 points per game in the same time frame.

Cork have lost Christopher Joyce (cruciate) and Conor O’Sullivan (left panel). Suddenly defensive options look thin on the ground and Lorcan McLoughlin admitted this week it’s a concern. Aidan Ryan is the leftfield inclusion at full-back tomorrow and Barry-Murphy knows his rearguard needs to solidify before the summer.”

So let’s have the teams then:

Cork

1. Anthony Nash (Kanturk)

2. Shane O’Neill (Bishopstown)
3. Aidan Ryan (Midleton)
4. Stephen McDonnell (Glen Rovers)

5. Lorcán McLoughlin (Kanturk)
6. Mark Ellis (Millstreet)
7. Cormac Murphy (Mallow)

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

10. Bill Cooper (Youghal)
11. Seamus Harnedy (St. Ita’s)
12. Rob O’Shea (Carrigaline)

13. Alan Cadogan (Douglas)
14. Conor Lehane (Midleton)
15. Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers)

Subs
16. Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig)
17. Damien Cahalane (St. Finbarr’s)
18. Killian Burke (Midleton)
19. William Kearney (Sarsfields)
20. Brian Lawton (Castlemartyr)
21. Patrick Cronin (Bishopstown)
22. Darren McCarthy (Ballymartle)
23. Paudie O’Sullivan (Cloyne)
24. Stephen Moylan (Douglas)
25. Luke O’Farrell (Midleton)
26. Jamie Coughlan (Newtownshandrum)

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Waterford

1. Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner)

2. Shane Fives (Tourin)
3. Barry Coughlan (Ballygunner)
4. Noel Connors (Passage)

5. Tadhg De Burca (Clashmore Kinsalebeg)
6. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion)

7. Philip Mahony (Ballygunner)
8. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater)

22. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart)
10. Kevin Moran (De La Salle)
11. Pauric Mahony (Ballygunner)

12. Jake Dillon (De La Salle)
21. Maurice Shanahan (Lismore)
14. Michael Walsh (Stradbally)
15. Colin Dunford (Colligan)

16. Ian O’Regan (Mount Sion)
17. Shane Mcnulty (De La Salle)
18. Martin O’Neill (Mount Sion)
19. Gavin O’Brien (Roanmore)
20. Paudie Prendergast (Lismore)
21. Maurice Shanahan (Lismore)
22. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart)
23. Shane O’Sullivan (Ballygunner)
24. Eddie Barrett (De La Salle)
25. Stephen Daniels (De La Salle)
26. Donie Breathnach (An Rinn)

After last night’s disappointing fare at the MGM Grand, two of hurling’s heavyweights are getting ready to rumble at Semple Stadium this afternoon.

Cork and Waterford face off in what’s a novel league decider – it’s the first all-Munster final since 2001. The Déise of course make history by being the first 1B side to make the competition’s climax.

We’ll have team news and more from Thurles but how do you see this one playing out?