Good evening and welcome to what promises to be an absolute cracker in Croke Park.

It’s the Leinster senior hurling championship final as Dublin bid to lift the Bob O’Keeffe Cup for the first time since 2013… while Kilkenny bid to do what Kilkenny do best.

Throw-in is at 7.30pm — and, much like everywhere else in the country, the sun is absolutely beating down on Headquarters.

TEAM NEWS: Some breaking news in the last little while as the teams were confirmed. Dublin have confirmed one case of Covid-19 within their team, with three more players subsequently identified as close contacts.

While there has been no confirmation of which player has had the positive test, we do know the four players who will miss out this evening: Cian O’Callaghan and Ronan Hayes both drop out of the Dubs’ starting XV, while Fergal Whitely and Oisin O’Rourke are no longer on the bench.

Andrew Dunphy and Mark Schutte start for O’Callaghan and Hayes.

TEAM NEWS: There’s one change for Kilkenny as well - James Maher replaces Darragh Corcoran.

So after those changes, here is Dublin’s starting team.

Eoghan O’Donnell starts for the Dubs at full-back, with Fiontan McGibb and Sean Currie added to the Dublin bench.

Dublin

1. Alan Nolan

2. Paddy Smyth
3. Eoghan O’Donnell
17. Andrew Dunphy

5. Daire Gray
6. Liam Rushe
7. James Madden

8. Rian McBride
9. Conor Burke

10. Danny Sutcliffe
11. Donal Burke
12. Chris Crummey

13. Cian Boland
23. Mark Schutte
15. Cian O’Sullivan

Here’s the Kilkenny starting XV — Richie Leahy is also now starting in place of Alan Murphy.

1. Eoin Murphy

2. Tommy Walsh
3. Huw Lawlor
4. Paddy Deegan

20. James Maher
6. Padraig Walsh
7. Conor Browne

8. Richie Reid
9. Adrian Mullen

10. John Donnelly
11. Martin Keoghan
12. Billy Ryan

13. Eoin Cody
14. TJ Reid
23. Richie Leahy

Before the action begins, there will be a minute’s applause in memory of Monaghan’s Brendan Og Duffy, who died tragically last night.

1 min — Kilkenny 0-1 Dublin 0-0: 17 seconds on the clock and TJ Reid drops the game’s opening score over the bar.

2 mins — Kilkenny 0-2 Dublin 0-0: Danny Sutcliffe is whistled for a foul and, from inside his own half, TJ Reid sends it towards the Hill 16 end… and between the posts. Perfect start for TJ.

3 mins — Kilkenny 0-3 Dublin 0-0: Nervy moment in the Dublin defence and John Donnelly wheels away to pop the ball over the bar.

4 mins – Disaster for Dublin as Eoghan O’Donnell, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury, lasts just over three minutes before limping off. Cuala’s Sean Moran comes on to replace him, with Paddy Smyth seemingly slotting in at full-back for now.

6 mins — Kilkenny 0-4 Dublin 0-0: Andrew Dunphy comes through the back of John Donnelly and it’s another dead ball opportunity for TJ Reid. Bread and butter for TJ.

6 mins — Kilkenny 0-4 Dublin 0-1: Chris Crummey makes a huge block as Kilkenny try to play out from the back, and the ball falls to Donal Burke who fires it back over the bar. It’s Dublin’s first shot, and their first score.

8 mins — Kilkenny 0-4 Dublin 0-2: Better from Dublin. Again, it’s Chris Crummey who forces the turnover high up the pitch and it’s worked to Danny Sutcliffe who points.

8 mins – Chance for Adrian Mullen but he hits his — and Kilkenny’s — second wide of the evening.

9 mins — Kilkenny 0-5 Dublin 0-2: Paddy Smyth is pinged for picking the sliotar off the ground — which may be a harsh call, if the first replay is anything to go by. TJ Reid points the free to push Kilkenny’s lead out to three.

10 mins – Cian Boland hits Dublin’s first wide but after a shaky opening five minutes, they’ve really grown into this.

11 mins — Kilkenny 0-5 Dublin 0-3: Dublin’s defence come out on top again and they work the ball forward to Sutcliffe who slots the point.

12 mins – Sutcliffe scoops up a loose ball in midfield and only has one thing on his mind, but unfortunately for Dublin, it’s left on wide. They’re getting on top of the Kilkenny puckout at the moment though.

13 mins – Donal Burke lines up a long free from inside his own 65. It drops short… and it’s Huw Lawlor who rises highest to claim it for Kilkenny.

14 mins — Kilkenny 0-6 Dublin 0-3: John Donnelly spins back outside his marker and pops the ball to Adrian Mullen out on the sideline, who puts it over the bar.

16 mins – Huge Kilkenny pressure forces Paddy Smyth into a hurried clearance which Kilkenny turn over. Billy Ryan has a chance from out wide but he rushes his effort as well and it drops short.

17 mins – Donal Burke hits a 65 into the Davin End but it drops short and Eoin Murphy bats it away to safety.

19 mins — Kilkenny 0-6 Dublin 0-4: Cian O’Sullivan is fouled out the field and it gives Donal Burke a chance for a free before the water break. He fires it off the inside of the post and over the bar, and there’s two between them at the first-half water break.

20 mins — Kilkenny 0-7 Dublin 0-4: Another magnificent piece of high fielding from Huw Lawlor who soars over Cian O’Sullivan to claim possession. Kilkenny win a free, and TJ Reid converts.

21 mins — Kilkenny 0-7 Dublin 0-5: Donal Burke strikes back immediately to bring Dublin back within two. That was a cleverly-worked puckout from Alan Nolan.

21 mins — Kilkenny 0-8 Dublin 0-5: Adrian Mullen points for Kilkenny; good work from Eoin Cody to win possession in the build up to that score.

22 mins — Kilkenny 0-9 Dublin 0-5: And now Martin Keoghan adds another for Kilkenny.

24 mins — Kilkenny 0-9 Dublin 0-6: Cian Boland gets Dublin back to within three.

26 mins – Goal chance for Dublin as they find themselves one-on-one with the Kilkenny defence but when Chris Crummey gets his shot away, he pulls it low and right and wide.

27 mins – Another dead-ball opportunity goes a-begging for Dublin as Donal Burke pulls a free wide from the Cusack Stand sideline.

30 mins – Eoin Murphy has a go from distance from a free but it’s wide — Kilkenny’s fifth of the evening so far.

31 mins – Kilkenny 0-9 Dublin 0-7: Liam Rushe wins a Dublin free in their own half and Alan Nolan rockets it over the bar to bring Dublin back within two.

32 mins — Kilkenny 0-9 Dublin 0-8: It’s 10 minutes since Kilkenny last scored, and it won’t be now as Richie Leahy is turned over. Dublin hare forward and it’s Chris Crummey who gets the chance, and points.

33 mins — Kilkenny 0-9 Dublin 0-9: Crummey again. Dublin are level as we approach the break.

34 mins — Kilkenny 0-10 Dublin 0-9: Kilkenny end that scoreless streak and it’s Eoin Cody who nudges them back in front.

35 mins — Kilkenny 0-11 Dublin 0-9: James Maher comes up to join the attack and scores.

35 mins — Kilkenny 0-12 Dublin 0-9: Eoin Cody wins possession, and then a free, for Kilkenny. TJ Reid points the free, and Kilkenny have found another gear in these last few minutes before the break which could be crucial in the final reckoning.

There’ll be two additional minutes played.

35+2 mins – Cian Boland gets in around Tommy Walsh and heads towards goal, but he goes to ground, there’s no free given, and the ball goes wide.

HALF TIME: Kilkenny 0-12 Dublin 0-9

SECOND HALF: We’re back underway in Croke Park with Dublin playing into the Hill 16 end in the second half.

Can the Dubs sustain the effort they’ve needed to keep in touch thus far?

36 mins – One sub to report at the break: Alan Murphy is on to replace Richie Leahy for Kilkenny.

38 mins – There’s a lot of pushing and shoving going on now with players from both sides involved, but when all’s said and done, Johnny Murphy decides just to throw in the ball and get on with things.

39 mins — Kilkenny 0-13 Dublin 0-9: Alan Murphy is clipped by Danny Sutcliffe which gives TJ Reid the chance to point his seventh score — and sixth free — of the evening.

41 mins – Pádraig Walsh hits a wide, Kilkenny’s seventh of the evening.

41 mins — Kilkenny 0-13 Dublin 0-10: Danny Sutcliffe does excellently to win possession and then a free from James Maher. Donal Burke points to get Dublin back within three.

43 mins — Kilkenny 0-13 Dublin 0-11: Paul Crummey is on for Dublin and makes an immediate impact. Kilkenny do well to smother the chance as he bursts forward, and after a bit of scramble, it’s worked back to Rian McBride who points.

44 mins — Kilkenny 0-14 Dublin 0-11: TJ Reid is in at full-forward for now and does magnificently to gather possession under pressure from Paddy Smyth. He wins the free and converts it.

45 mins — Kilkenny 0-15 Dublin 0-11: James Maher gets out in front of Sutcliffe and then booms over a big point. Just like that, Kilkenny’s lead is four.

46 mins — Kilkenny 0-15 Dublin 0-12: And now it’s back to three. Sutcliffe is fouled by Maher, and Burke points the free.

47 mins — Kilkenny 0-16 Dublin 0-12: Another free, another point for TJ Reid. He has been perfect over the dead balls again today.

48 mins – Kilkenny bring on Walter Walsh to replace Billy Ryan. Walsh goes straight in on top of Liam Rushe.

49 mins – Good defending by Dublin as Paddy Deegan tries to break through on goal. He flicks the ball to Martin Keoghan, and Alan Nolan needs to be big and brave to prevent the goal. The ball breaks down the other end but Chris Crummey puts it wide. 

50 mins — Kilkenny 0-17 Dublin 0-12: Paddy Smyth is blown for a foul on Walter Walsh. TJ points. Kilkenny lead by five.

51 mins — Kilkenny 0-18 Dublin 0-12: A couple of big moments, and they’re all going Kilkenny’s way. James Maher flicks the ball away from Danny Sutcliffe as he tries to run at the Kilkenny defence. It’s worked to Martin Keoghan who points.

52 mins — Kilkenny 0-19 Dublin 0-12: Kilkenny are starting to pull away and they’re punishing any Dublin mistakes; James Madden lets the ball loose and Alan Murphy points.

It’s the water break and Kilkenny lead by seven. Is that it, or have the Dubs got one more fight left in them?

53 mins — Kilkenny 0-20 Dublin 0-12: Kilkenny restart after the water break and it leads to a quick point for Alan Murphy.

55 mins — Kilkenny 0-20 Dublin 0-13: Donal Burke cuts the gap to seven with a free.

56 mins — Kilkenny 0-21 Dublin 0-13: Cillian Buckley gets the chance to run at Dublin and doesn’t need to be asked twice before pointing from an angle.

57 mins — Kilkenny 0-22 Dublin 0-13: James Maher bombs over another Kilkenny point from well inside his own half.

57 mins — Kilkenny 0-22 Dublin 0-14: Jake Malone tacks one on for Dublin.

59 mins – Donal Burke pulls his free left and wide, which won’t do Dublin’s chances any good.

60 mins – Kilkenny 0-22 Dublin 0-15: Michael Carey hits Cian Boland helmet-to-helmet, which earns him a yellow card and gives Dublin a free. Donal Burke points it to make it a seven-point game.

And now Cian Boland goes off as concussion sub, with Sean Currie on to replace him.

PENALTY FOR KILKENNY!

GOAL FOR KILKENNY! Kilkenny 1-22 Dublin 0-15 (TJ Reid pen, 62′)

Jake Malone is sin-binned for a foul on Alan Murphy, and TJ Reid dispatches the penalty, coolly sending Alan Nolan the wrong way.

Game, set, and match.

64 mins — Kilkenny 1-22 Dublin 0-16: Donal Burke points a free. Nine between the sides now with about 10 minutes, give or take, to play.

65 mins — Kilkenny 1-23 Dublin 0-16: James Bergin comes on for Eoin Cody and, with effectively his first touch, scores a point.

66 mins — Kilkenny 1-23 Dublin 0-17: Liam Rushe picks out Davy Keogh, and he points for Dublin.

67 mins — Kilkenny 1-24 Dublin 0-17: Michael Carey makes it a 10-point game again.

68 mins – Daire Gray’s effort from distance drifts right and wide.

69 mins – Kilkenny 1-24 Dublin 0-18: Huw Lawlor comes through the back of Paul Crummey in the air, and it’s a Dublin free. Donal Burke points it.

70 mins – Three additional minutes to play before Kilkenny are crowned Leinster champions once again.

70+3 mins — Kilkenny 1-25 Dublin 0-18: James Bergin gets his second to leave 10 between the sides.

70+4 mins — Kilkenny 1-25 Dublin 0-19: One last Dublin free, and Donal Burke splits the posts.

FULL TIME: Kilkenny 1-25 Dublin 0-19

KILKENNY ARE LEINSTER CHAMPIONS AGAIN!

That is, remarkably, Brian Cody’s 17th Leinster title as Adrian Mullen climbs the steps of the Hogan Stand to collect the Bob O’Keeffe Cup on behalf of Kilkenny.

The nine-point margin at the end certainly didn’t flatter Kilkenny who took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half as Dublin tired and were ruthless in how they punished any mistakes.

For Dublin, they’ll have a weekend off next weekend before they’re back out in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. On the basis of their performances so far this summer — today’s in very testing circumstances — they’ll be a team that a lot of counties would rather avoid if possible.

That’s it from us for the moment. Kevin O’Brien will have a match report and reaction from Croke Park over the course of the evening. Thanks very much for reading.