Welcome to today’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final between Dublin and Galway in Croke Park. Kevin O’Brien here and I’ll be keeping you right up to date with this clash.

It’s the first championship meeting between these sides in 35 years, while Galway are competing in their first semi-final since 2001.

They lifted the Sam Maguire the same year but face a four-in-a-row chasing Dublin side who are heavy favourites to retain their crown later this month.

The sides met twice already this season in the league – drawing their meeting in Salthill while Dublin prevailed by four points in the league decider. Dublin have made nine changes from last weekend’s easy win over Roscommon, while Galway have made just the one.

The Tribesmen are expected to give Dublin their fill of it, but last weekend’s eight-point home loss to Monaghan was deeply concerning for Kevin Walsh. Dublin are six point favourites with the bookies. Throw-in is at 4pm.

Here’s how the sides have been named to start although expect changes before the game gets underway.

Galway

1. Ruairí Lavelle (Salthill/Knocknacarra)

2. Declan Kyne (Clonbur)
3. Seán Andy Ó Ceallaigh (Naomh Ánna/Leitir Mór)
4. Eoghan Kerin (Annaghdown)

5. Cathal Sweeney (Killannin)
6. Gareth Bradshaw (Moycullen)
7. Garry O’Donnell (Tuam Stars)

8. Peter Cooke (Moycullen)
9. Tom Flynn (Athenry)

10. Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin/Clonberne)
11. Patrick Sweeney (Killannin)
12. Seán Kelly (Moycullen)

13. Ian Burke (Corofin)
14. Damien Comer (Annaghdown)
15. Eamonn Brannigan (Salthill/Knocknacarra)

Dublin

1. Stephen Cluxton (Parnell’s)

2. Mick Fitzsimons (Cuala)
3. Cian O’Sullivan (Kilmacud Crokes)
4. Philly McMahon (Ballymun Kickhams)

5. Jonny Cooper (Na Fianna)
6. James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams)
7. Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf)

8. Brian Fenton (Raheny)
9. Michael Darragh Macauley (Ballyboden St Enda’s)

10. Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street)
11. Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock)
12. Brian Howard (Raheny)

13. Con O’Callaghan (Cuala)
14. Dean Rock (Ballymun)
15. Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes)

25 minutes before throw-in, so it’s time for your predictions. Who do you fancy to win this one and by how much?

Late changes

Two late moves for Dublin, John Small replaces Michael Darragh Macauley and Eoin Murchan replaces Michael Fitzsimons.

On the Galway team, Johnny Heaney comes in for Gary O’Donnell, Ciaran Duggan is in for Peter Cooke and Sean Armstrong replaces Patrick Sweeney.

Stephen Cluxton and Shane Walsh arriving in Croke Park earlier. Both will be key players for their respective sides today.

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

The pre-game formalities are over and we’re moments away from throw-in. Cluxton won the toss and Dublin will play into Hill 16 with the wind at their backs for the opening 35 minutes.

Dublin 0-1 Galway 0-0

Paul Mannion bursts past Eoghan Kerin down the endline and clips over his opening score of the day.

Damien Comer is playing quite deep and being tracked by Philly McMahon, who loves to get forward.

Specialist man-marker Eoin Murchan is following Shane Walsh.

Dublin 0-2 Galway 0-0

Dean Rock slots over a free after Ciaran Kilkenny was fouled.

Dublin 0-3 Galway 0-0

Another Rock free, after he was fouled himself, sends Dublin three ahead.

GOAL! Damien Comer hits the net for Galway after seven minutes!

Dublin 0-3 Galway 1-1

The high ball into the area to Comer will be a tactic Galway use heavily today. He beat O’Sullivan and McMahon in the air before flicking over the advancing Cluxton. Moments later Shane Walsh swings one over on the outside of his right boot. Just like that, Galway are in front.

Dublin 0-4 Galway 1-1

Brian Howard bursts through and levels it up. Looks like we have a real game on our hands!

PENALTY! Comer is fouled by Cooper!

SAVE! Eamonn Brannigan’s spot-kick is stopped by Cluxton!

Dublin 0-5 Galway 1-1

Fine stop by Cluxton and Walsh sends the resultant 45 wide. At the far end Dublin attack and Kilkenny splits the posts. He now has 2-18 from play this summer.

Dublin 0-6 Galway 1-1

Kilkenny feeds Brian Fenton to edge Dublin two clear. Great start to this game.

Here’s Comer’s goal for Galway earlier:

Damien Comer with @Galway_GAA's opening goal! pic.twitter.com/pcgN1Dizlt

— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 11, 2018

Three wides in-a-row for Galway, Sean Armstrong with the latest. The scores are coming easier for Dublin so far.

Dublin 0-7 Galway 1-1

Rock with another free.

Dublin 0-7 Galway 1-2

Ian Burke hits Galway’s first score in 11 minutes. They needed that one.

Dublin 0-7 Galway 1-3

Walsh knocks over a close-range free – his second of the day.

Dublin 0-7 Galway 1-4

Ian Burke wins a free from Cian O’Sullivan after Galway turned over a Cluxton kick-out. Walsh applied the finish from the placed ball.

GOAL! Con O’Callaghan bags a first-half goal for Dublin!

Dublin 1-7 Galway 1-4

O’Callaghan’s goal arrived after good approach play from Jack McCaffrey and Niall Scully. Meanwhile, Cian O’Sullivan is carrying a knock and has been replaced by Mick Fitzsimons.

Dublin 1-7 Galway 1-5

Brannigan makes a great run forward and finds Burke for a well-taken score.

Dublin 1-8 Galway 1-5

Kilkenny feigns to go left and turns onto his right before slotting over.

Dublin 1-9 Galway 1-5

Mannion finishes off a good Dublin move and makes it a four point gap.

Dublin 1-9 Galway 1-6

Walsh swings over a delightful point off his left foot.

Dublin 1-9 Galway 1-7

Tomas Flynn makes a brilliant interception and Galway work the ball upfield for Johnny Heaney to strike over.

HT – Dublin 1-9 Galway 1-7

Some stats from the opening half.

STATS
SFC semi final #DUBvGAL
Half time
DUBLIN: 1-9(12)
GALWAYF: 1-7(10) pic.twitter.com/tgQSHvK0PH

— gaaapps (@gaaapps) August 11, 2018

SCORERS
SFC semi final #DUBvGAL
Half time
DUBLIN: 1-9(12)
GALWAYF: 1-7(10) pic.twitter.com/lGVloXS7gk

— gaaapps (@gaaapps) August 11, 2018

SFC semi final #DUBvGAL
Half time
DUBLIN: 1-9(12)
GALWAY : 1-7(10)
shots pic.twitter.com/q0x8W2GbVQ

— gaaapps (@gaaapps) August 11, 2018

Some snaps from the first-half:

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

Here are the half-time highlights. The second-half will resume shortly.

Dublin are leading Galway by 2 points at half-time in Croke Park in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final.

Dublin 1-09 Galway 1-07

Watch the first-half highlights here! pic.twitter.com/0HJ2070nyr

— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 11, 2018

Sean Cavanagh thinks Galway missed a great chance to test the Dubs' mettle: "I was kinding of praying that the penalty would go in, just to see what Dublin would be like if they went three or four points down" https://t.co/MjbY0hMdAQ #DUBvGAL #GAA pic.twitter.com/Cm9XOon3y5

— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) August 11, 2018

We’re back underway!

Dublin 1-9 Galway 1-7

McCaffrey had a sniff of a goal chance but Sean Kelly did well to turn it out for a 45, which Rock sends wide. That’s just their third wide of the game.

Dublin 1-10 Galway 1-7

Mannion slots over a brilliant score from distance. That’s his third of the day.

Dublin 1-11 Galway 1-7

Galway’s Kelly has a goal chance at one end intercepted by McCaffrey. Dublin break and O’Callaghan eventually adds a fisted point.

Dublin 1-11 Galway 1-8

Flynn drills over a fine effort from distance. Rock misses a 40m free after a foul on Kilkenny. Dublin bring Cormac Costello in for Niall Scully.

Dublin 1-12 Galway 1-8

Dublin attack down the left and switch the ball inside to Kilkenny, who is unbelievably left unmarked in acres of space. Galway have brought in Michael Daly for Armstrong.

Dublin 1-13 Galway 1-8

Rock’s fourth free stretches the Dublin lead to five. Galway are in danger of falling out of this contest.

Dublin 1-15 Galway 1-9

Daly’s first involvement in the game sees him curl over a stunning point. O’Callaghan hits back with a point immediately to bring his tally to 1-2. It all started with a great Fenton mark at midfield. Rock adds another as Dublin move six clear.

Dublin 1-15 Galway 1-10

Comer wins a much-needed free and Walsh applies the finish from the dead ball.

Kevin McManamon is in for Rock. Costello is likely to take over free-taking duties.

Con O'Callaghan stretches the Dublin lead to six points in the 52nd minute with a lovely score over his shoulder Highlights on the Sunday Game at 9.30pm on @RTE2 https://t.co/MjbY0hMdAQ #DUBvGAL #GAA pic.twitter.com/xYMf4gd5AV

— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) August 11, 2018

Dublin 1-16 Galway 1-10

Galway make two great blocks on Dublin forwards but eventually, McManamon runs forward and slips a pass to Costello for a score.

Dublin 1-17 Galway 1-10

Costello fists over a point to give Dublin a seven point lead.

Dublin 1-18 Galway 1-10

Fenton now has 1-9 in the championship after his stylish score off the left foot.

Dublin 1-19 Galway 1-10

Costello adds a free to his tally. He’s been excellent since his introduction in the second period.

Dublin 1-20 Galway 1-11

Sensational score from Comer from the outside of the right foot. O’Callaghan immediately cancels that out at the far end.

Dublin 1-20 Galway 1-12

Flynn intercepts a Cluxton kick-out and sends it into Comer who breaks it to O’Donnell and the wing-back converts his chance.

Dublin 1-21 Galway 1-12

Kilkenny to Costello to Mannion. Another score.

Dublin 1-23 Galway 1-12

Flynn and McManamon add another apiece for Dublin.

Dublin 1-24 Galway 1-12

McManamon kicks over another point as the margin stretches to 12.

GOAL! Galway get a late consolation goal through Shane Walsh!

Dublin 1-24 Galway 2-12

Flynn and McManamon crack a shot apiece off the crossbar in the space of seconds.

FT - Dublin 1-24 Galway 2-12