So would Leinster champions Dublin continue their winning ways or would beaten Munster finalists Cork overcome them?
The teams met in today’s All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final and we had all the action.
As always, we’d love to hear your comments. Send them to fintan@thescore.ie, tweet them @TheScoreGAA, find us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.
RESULT: Cork 1-24 Dublin 1-19
We’re getting set for the big one in Croke Park today. Cheers amongst both sets of supporters as the Cork and Dublin teams have taken to the field.
Here’s the teams that are named to start this afternoon, no changes on either side from their last games.
Dublin: Gary Maguire; Niall Corcoran, Peter Kelly, Paul Schutte; Stephen Hiney, Liam Rushe, Michael Carton; John Mc Caffrey, Joseph Boland; Conal Keaney, Ryan O’Dwyer, Danny Sutcliffe; David O’Callaghan, Paul Ryan, David Treacy.
Cork: Anthony Nash; Stephen McDonnell, Shane O’Neill, Conor O’Sullivan; Tom Kenny, Christopher Joyce, William Egan; Lorcan McLoughlin, Daniel Kearney; Seamus Harnedy, Jamie Coughlan, Pa Cronin; Luke O’Farrell, Patrick Horgan, Conor Lehane.
The referee today is Wexford’s James Owens with linesmen being Offaly’s Brian Gavin (the standby referee) and Galway’s Alan Kelly. Carlow’s Paud O’Dwyer is the sideline official.
Here are the Dublin substitutes:
Alan Nolan, Chris Crummy, Eamon Dillon, Shane Durkin, Oisin Gough, Conor McCormack, Sean McGrath, Maurice O’Brien, Martin Quilty, Mark Schutte, Ruairi Trainor.
And here are the Cork substitutes:
Darren McCarthy, Killian Murphy, Brian Murphy, Mark Ellis, Stephen White, Rob O’Shea, Cian McCarthy, Stephen Moylan, Catahl Naughton, Michael Cussen, Michael O’Sullivan.
Dublin boss Anthony Daly.
Cork’s Jimmy Barry-Murphy.
Great crowd here and a brilliant atmosphere is being whipped up ahead of the 3.30pm throw-in. So tell us who do you think will win?
Dublin 0-1 Cork 0-0: 1 mins – And Dublin are quickly in front with a monster long-range point by Danny Sutcliffe.
Cork 0-1 Dublin 0-1: 2 mins – Cork draw level as Patrick Horgan rifles over the resultant free.
Cork 0-2 Dublin 0-1: 3 mins – Half a goal chance for Cork through Conor Lehane but in the end he does well to tap over a point under pressure.
Cork 0-3 Dublin 0-1: 4 mins – Cork point again through Luke O’Farrell. A fine score after he was picked out by his club mate Conor Lehane.
Great defensive work by Dublin’s Peter Kelly to snuff out a scoring chance for Patrick Horgan and win a free.
Cork 0-3 Dublin 0-2: 7 mins – And Paul Ryan fires over the free into the Hill 16 end.
Cork 0-3 Dublin 0-3: 8 mins – Dublin turn over Cork in defence, Paul Ryan floats in a ball that O’Callaghan gathers before pointing.
Bad wide for Cork from Seamus Harnedy as he was picked out in space by Conor Lehane.
Dublin 0-4 Cork 0-4: 10 mins – Ryan O’Dwyer wins a puckout and Dublin create an overlap for a move that is finished off by a Conal Keaney point. Yet Cork hit back with a good individual effort by Lorcan McLoughlin.
Cork 0-5 Dublin 0-4: 12 mins – Great play by Conor Lehane to block down Liam Rushe and he switches the play across for Lorcan McLoughlin to break through for another point.
Cork 0-6 Dublin 0-5: 15 mins – McLoughlin points again for Cork to put them back in front after Paul Ryan had scored a ’65 for Dublin.
Dublin 0-6 Cork 0-6: 16 mins – David Treacy ties the teams with a fine point for Dublin, moments after his point attempt had dropped short.
Dublin 0-7 Cork 0-6: 17 mins – Then Danny Sutcliffe bounds onto a loose ball and clips over a stylish point.
Dublin 0-7 Cork 0-7: 18 mins – But this match continues to be tightly contested as Conor Lehane flights over a point for Cork in reply.
Dublin 0-8 Cork 0-7: 19 mins – Joey Boland gets off the mark for Dublin after being set up by David Treacy. Great work by Sutcliffe initially for Dublin.
Dublin 0-8 Cork 0-8: 19 mins – Can’t take your eyes off this game. They’re level again as Patrick Horgan scores for Cork.
Great play by Patrick Horgan to set up Daniel Kearney but after he cuts through, he tries a goal effort from 20 yards that is deflected wide for a ’65.
Early Dublin change as Stephen Hiney is replaced in defence by his club mate Shane Durkin.
Cork 0-9 Dublin 0-8: 23 mins – Nice point by Seamus Harnedy as he is first to react to a breaking ball.
Cork 0-10 Dublin 0-9: 27 mins – Brilliant skill by Conor Lehane to control a pass by Luke O’Farrell and he fires over a point. But Dublin hit back instantly through Dotsy O’Callaghan.
Cork 0-11 Dublin 0-9: 29 mins – Patrick Horgan converts a free to stretch Cork’s lead.
Dublin 1-9 Cork 0-11: 30 mins – Dublin hit the net as David Treacy escapes from the Cork cover to boot home after a pass by Paul Ryan.
Dublin 1-9 Cork 0-12: 30 mins – Cork bounce back to level when Harnedy is fouled and Horgan strikes over the free.
Dublin 1-10 Cork 0-13: 31 mins – Great point for Dublin from Johnny McCaffrey from play yet Cork reply with a fine score by Harnedy.
Scoring chance for Dublin but Conal Keaney lashes the ball wide from close range. Hawkeye confirms it.
Dublin 1-11 Cork 0-14: 34 mins – But again Cork hit back with a superb point from Patrick Cronin.
Cork 0-15 Dublin 1-11: 36 mins – Bad clearance by Dublin’s Shane Durkin is seized on by Cork’s Daniel Kearney as he drills the ball between the posts.
Half-Time: Cork 0-15 Dublin 1-11: And that’s how it stands after an amazing first-half. Brilliant score taking from both sides with Cork just in front at the interval.
Dublin 1-12 Cork 0-15: 36 mins – Poorly hit free by Paul Ryan but the ball finds its way to Ryan O’Dwyer and he despatches it between the posts.
Cork 0-16 Dublin 1-12: 39 mins – Cork hit the front after a mighty long-range point from a free by goalkeeper Anthony Nash.
Dublin 1-13 Cork 0-16: 40 mins – Level again after substitute Shane Durkin scores for Dublin.
Dublin aren’t happy that a free wasn’t awarded for what looked like a foul on David O’Callaghan by Shane O’Neill. Patrick Cronin fires wide for Cork at the other end.
Dublin goal chance but Ryan O’Dwyer’s shot is well blocked by Anthony Nash for Cork.
Dublin 1-15 Cork 0-16: 44 mins – Paul Ryan fires over a Dublin free as Cork bring on Stephen White for Tom Kenny.
Dublin 1-16 Cork 0-17: 45 mins – Patrick Horgan points a free for Cork after McLoughlin is fouled with Conal Keaney responding at the other end for Dublin.
Dublin 1-16 Cork 0-18: 49 mins – The gap is back to the minimum thanks to Cork’s Luke O’Farrell pointing.
And Dublin’s Ryan O’Dwyer has just been sent off after being booked for the second time in the game.
He fouled Lorcan McLoughlin with a shoulder to the chest. That’s a big setback for Dublin and could be a big moment in this game.
Dublin 1-16 Cork 0-19: 50 mins – And Cork draw level with Nash slamming over the free from distance.
Dublin substitute sees Mark Schutte in for David Treacy. Cork temporary change with McLoughlin replaced by Rob O’Shea.
Dublin 1-16 Cork 0-20: 52 mins – Jamie Coughlan lofts over a fine point for Cork to put them ahead.
Dublin 1-17 Cork 0-20: 54 mins – 14 man Dublin draw level with a beautiful point from Danny Sutcliffe.
Dublin 1-17 Cork 0-21: 55 mins – Patrick Horgan scores a free for Cork after Patrick Cronin was fouled.
Dublin 1-18 Cork 0-22: 60 mins – Patrick Horgan steps up for Cork to land a vital point from play. Eamonn Dillon on for Dublin instead of Dotsy O’Callaghan.
Cork 1-23 Dublin 1-19: 66 mins – Massive boost for Cork as a long ball in from Patrick Cronin sees Gary Maguire come out to gather it, but Horgan flicks the ball off him and into the net.
Paul Ryan smashes in a 20 yard free for Dublin but Cork block it on the line and clear to safety.
Cork 1-24 Dublin 1-19: 72 mins – Moylan delivers for Cork as he lobs over a point. Ruairi Trainor replaces Paul Schutte for Dublin.
Another over hyped, over priced, over paid, under performing next big English player….. a long list.
Another over hyped, over priced, over paid, under performing next be
@Martin Glynn: another over priced over paid… Oh wait
Touted as the next Beckham, and there were similarities,ah well best of luck to him,he won’t be unemployed anyway.