Afternoon and welcome along to our coverage of the 2015 Fitzgibbon Cup semi-finals. First up it’s the meeting of Cork IT and Waterford IT at 1pm, a repeat of last year’s final which WIT won.

Cork’s Pat Mulcahy goes up against Tipperary’s Colm Bonnar in the managerial stakes.

Then at 2.45pm it’s UL against Limerick IT. Last year they met at the quarter-final stage with LIT proving surprise winners. LIT are managed by Davy Fitzgerald with his former Clare teammate Brian Lohan guiding the fortunes of UL.

Whilst we’re waiting for the action in Limerick to get underway, here is some pre-match reading in the form of five burning questions to be answered today.

Here are the line-ups for the first semi-final between Cork IT and Waterford IT:

WATERFORD IT

1. Darragh Stapleton (Doon, Limerick)

7. Owen McGrath (John Lockes, Kilkenny)
3. Ger Teehan (Graigue-Ballycallan, Kilkenny),
4. Jerome Maher (Geraldines, Waterford)

5. Thomas Hamill (JK Brackens, Tipperary)
6. Martin O’Neill (Mount Sion, Waterford)
2. Tom Fox (Éire Óg-Annacarty, Tipperary)

8. Jack Langton (Clara, Kilkenny)
9. Stephen Roche (Mount Sion, Waterford)

13. Gavin O’Brien (Roanmore, Waterford)
11. Pauric Mahony (Ballygunner, Waterford)
10. Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn, Wexford)

14. Liam McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney, Tipperary)
12. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion, Waterford)
15. Jake Dillon (De La Salle, Waterford)

CORK IT

1. Gary Minihane (Courcey Rovers, Cork)

2. Stephen Murphy (Blackrock, Cork)
3. Alan Dennehy (Charleville, Cork)
4. Tomás Lawrence (Brian Dillons, Cork)

5. Jack Herlihy (Newtownshandrum, Cork)
6. Mark Ellis (Millstreet, Cork)
7. Cian Buckley (Na Piarsaigh, Cork)

8. Conor Hammersley (Clonoulty-Rossmore, Tipperary)
9. William Murphy (Meelin, Cork)

23. Daire Lordan (Courcey Rovers, Cork)
11. John Cronin (Lisgoold, Cork)
12. Aidan Walsh (Kanturk, Cork)

13. John O’Dwyer (Killenaule, Tipperary)
14. Noel McNamara (Kilworth, Cork)
15. Kevin Kavanagh (Carrigaline, Cork)

Waterford, the defending champions, defeated DIT on Tuesday to book a place in the last four today while Cork IT defeated NUI Galway 0-19 to 0-10.

News coming through from our man in Limerick, Tipperary’s Joe O’Dwyer is out injured and won’t be available for the weekend.

The first semi-final of the 2015 Fitzgibbon Cup is just about the kick-off. Fergal Horgan is the man in charge for Cork IT v Waterford IT.

Cork IT 0-1 Waterford IT 0-0: Great start for Cork as Cian Buckley scores the game’s opening point from distance.

Cork IT 0-1 Waterford IT 0-0: At the other end, WIT have a goal disallowed as Austin Gleeson is adjudged to have over carried.

Cork IT 0-1 Waterford IT 0-0: Cork are on top in the early exchanges but can’t stretch their lead as Aidan Walsh and then John O’Dwyer send efforts wide.

Cork IT 0-2 Waterford IT 0-1: Moments after Noel McNamara puts Cork two points ahead, Gavin O’Brien responds immediately to get WIT on the board.

Cork IT 0-2 Waterford 0-2: Pauric Mahony levels proceedings with a free.

Cork IT 0-2 Waterford IT 0-3: WIT into the lead for the first time as Pauric Mahony scores his second point of the game from another free.

Cork IT 0-3 Waterford IT 0-3: John O’Dwyer brings CIT back level.

Cork IT 0-4 Waterford IT 0-4: After John O’Dwyer misses a straightforward free, WIT go down the other end and score from the puck out through Gavin O’Brien.

Cork IT 0-5 Waterford IT 0-4: John Cronin with the point for CIT after a superb assist from Noel McNamara.

Cork IT 0-5 Waterford IT 0-5: Pauric Mahony replays for WIT with a point from open play to level matters once again.

Cork IT 0-6 Waterford IT 0-5: Cronin is fouled and from the resulting free, O’Dwyer puts Cork back into the lead.

Cork IT 0-7 Waterford IT 0-6: Kevin Kavanagh stretches Cork’s lead to two points but WIT hit back instantly through Austin Gleeson.

Cork IT 0-7 Waterford IT 0-7: Gleeson scores his second point in as many minutes, this time from the sideline as the sides are back level.

It’s been a lively start to the first semi-final in Limerick.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Cork IT 0-7 Waterford IT 0-7: The teams go in level at the break.

Cork IT 0-09 Waterford IT 0-07: Back underway in Limerick as CIT score two quick points through O’Dwyer’s free and then Cronin.

Cork 0-09 Waterford 0-07: Gary Minihane makes a superb stop to deny WIT’s Austin Gleeson.

Cork IT 0-10 Waterford 0-07: Aidan Walsh stretches CIT’s lead.

Cork IT 0-11 Waterford IT 0-08: Scores coming at both ends now as Cian Buckley scores his first of the day before Austin Gleeson responds for WIT.

Cork IT 0-11 Waterford IT 0-08: First change of the day sees Michael Russell come on for William Murphy for CIT. 

Cork IT 0-11 Waterford IT 1-08: First goal of the game as Gleeson fires WIT level. Martin O’Neill sends a long ball towards Gleeson and he catches before rifeling home.

Cork IT 0-12 Waterford 1-9: Fifteen minutes to go and we’re still no closer to a winner. Gavin O’Brien puts WIT ahead before Bill Cooper levels proceedings once again.

Cork IT 0-12 Waterford 1-9: WIT edge ahead as Jake Dillon scores his first point of the day. Meanwhile, Patrick White has just come on for McNamara.

Cork IT 0-13 Waterford IT 1-10: CIT aren’t lying down though as Aidan Walsh scores a brilliant point in this enthralling first semi-final.

Cork IT 0-13 Waterford IT 1-11: Pauric Mahony is enjoying a terrific game and he puts WIT back in front as we enter the final ten minutes in Limerick.

Cork IT 0-14 Waterford IT 1-11: Just after WIT make a change as Liam McGrath makes way for Johnny Hayes, CIT bring themselves level through Bill Cooper.

Cork 0-14 Waterford 1-11: CIT make a change of their own now as Jamie Coughlan is introduced for Kevin Kavanagh.

Cork IT 0-14 Waterford IT 1-12: Could this be the match-winner? Pauric Mahony fires over another point to edge WIT ahead with just a couple of minutes left on the clock.

Cork IT 0-15 Waterford IT 1-12: No, is the answer as Cian Buckley levels matters again with just a minute of injury time to be played.

Cork IT 0-15 Waterford IT 1-12: That’s it, full-time. Extra-time needed to separate the two sides in the first of the Fitzgibbon Cup semi-finals.

Austin Gleeson scored the only goal of the game in normal time. It’s ten minutes each way in extra-time.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Cork IT 0-15 Waterford IT 1-12: Up and running in extra-time in Limerick. Who will book their place in the 2015 Fitzgibbon Cup final?

Cork IT 0-16 Waterford 1-12: CIT draw first blood as O’Dwyer puts them ahead.

Cork IT 0-17 Waterford IT 1-12: Jamie Coughlan is fouled and O’Dwyer scores from the resulting free. Cork’s lead now two points.

Cork IT 0-17 Waterford IT 1-13: Mahony is denied a goal by Mark Ellis but scores a point to bring WIT within a point again.

Cork IT 0-17 Waterford 1-14: Moments after O’Dwyer misses another free, WIT go up the other end and level matters through Gleeson.

Cork IT 0-17 Waterford IT 1-15: WIT turn it around as O’Brien fires over on the stroke of half-time in extra-time.

Cork IT 0-17 Waterford IT 1-16: Just after the restart, Mahony scores from a free.

Cork IT 0-17 Waterford IT 1-17: Gleeson gives WIT some breathing space with another point.

Cork IT 0-18 Waterford IT 1-18: Dara Lordan reduces the deficit but Johnny Hayes restores WIT’s three point advantage.

Cork IT 0-18 Waterford 1-20: There’s surely no way back for Cork now as Mahony and Gleeson score in quick succession to give WIT a five point lead with just five minutes remaining.

Cork IT 0-18 Waterford 1-20: Sub for WIT as Gavin O’Brien makes way for Ger Malone.

Cork IT 0-19 Waterford 1-20: Daire Lordan scores his first point of the game.

Cork IT 0-19 Waterford IT 1-20: The full-time whistle goes and WIT sneak home after an absorbing semi-final in Limerick. The difference between the sides in the end was four points.

Here are the teams for today’s second semi-final between Limerick IT and the University of Limerick

LIMERICK IT

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK

UL 0-4 Limerick IT 0-2:

And we’re up and running after some gremlins with UL leading by two points. David Reidy on the scoresheet for LIT while points form Cathal McInerney, John McGrath and David McInerney has UL in front.

GOAL Limerick IT 1-2 UL 0-5

After Cathal McInerney adds another point for UL, Willie Ryan raises the green flag for LIT and we’ve a level game.

Limerick IT 1-4 University of Limerick 0-5

David Reidy points a free and adds a score from play to stretch LIT ahead of their neighbours.

Limerick IT 1-4 University of Limerick 0-6

John McGrath points a free for UL to get their first score in seven minutes.

Limerick IT 1-5 University of Limerick 0-6

Reid points another free for LIT and their lead is back to two points.

Limerick IT 1-6 University of Limerick 0-6

A Fitzgerald points stretches the lead to three

Limerick IT 1-6 University of Limerick 0-7

Cathal McInerney with a great score from the wing for UL.

Limerick IT 1-6 University of Limerick 0-8

And that’s quickly followed by a Kevin O’Brien point and the gap is down to the narrowest of margins.

University of Limerick 0-10 Limerick IT 1-6 

UL are on a charge just before the break. A McGrath free and a point from Tommy Heffernan from play puts them ahead.

University of Limerick 0-10 Limerick IT 1-6 

And there’s the half-time whistle. UL go into the break with the narrowest of leads following a wide open first half.

University of Limerick 0-11 Limerick IT 1-6 

And UL start the second half the way they finished the first, this time Dan Morrissey with a point from play.

University of Limerick 1-11 Limerick IT 1-6 

And UL are stretching away now, Jason Forde’s well taken goal stretching their lead to five points. LIT have it all to do.

University of Limerick 1-13 Limerick IT 1-6

John McGrath’s free is swiftly followed by a David McInerney point from play and UL have scored 1-7 without reply since the 23rd minute.

University of Limerick 1-13 Limerick IT 1-7

And as if he was listening to me, Reidy points LIT’s first score of the second half from a free. Down the other end, UL appeal for a penalty after Kevin O’Brien looked to have been fouled but play waved on.

RED CARD! University of Limerick 1-13 Limerick IT 1-8

UL’s Jack Browne is sent off for an off the ball strike.

LIT’s Paul Flaherty scores to reduce the game to five.

University of Limerick 1-13 Limerick IT 1-9

Is this a comeback from LIT? Paul Killeen’s score makes it a four point game.

University of Limerick 1-14 Limerick IT 1-10

After yet another Reidy free from LIT, David McInerney steadies the ship for UL with a point of his own.

SUB: UL bring in Stephen Bennet for Tommy Heffernan and he immediately goes in to mark his brother Keiran who plays for LIT.

University of Limerick 1-15 Limerick IT 1-11

That didn’t last long as LIT move Kieran Bennet away from his brother. Seanie and Kevin O’Brien swap points and it remains a four point game with 12 minutes to go.

University of Limerick 1-15 Limerick IT 1-12

Killeen’s latest point reduces the gap to three.

University of Limerick 1-16 Limerick IT 1-13

Reidy and Forde exchange points and the gap remains at three.

University of Limerick 1-16 Limerick IT 1-14

Another free for LIT, another point for Reidy. The gap is down to two with six to play.

University of Limerick 1-16 Limerick IT 1-14

John McGrath misses a difficult free for UL while Patrick Fitzgerald comes on for LIT in place of Joe Campion.

University of Limerick 1-17 Limerick IT 1-14

Forde’s free puts UL three points up with as many minutes to play.

University of Limerick 2-17 Limerick IT 1-14

And that looks to be that as sub Stephen Bennet fires home UL’s second goal of the game.

RED CARD! Niall O’Connor sees the line for LIT and both side’s now have 14.

University of Limerick 2-18 Limerick IT 1-14

Forde points from the sideline to stretch UL’s lead further.

University of Limerick 2-18 Limerick IT 1-14

It’s all over, an entertaining game but UL just had too much for neighbours LIT in the end, running out seven point winners.

They’ll play Waterford IT in tomorrow’s final.

And that’s all from us. You can find reaction and reports from both today’s games by clicking right here.

Thanks as always for joining us.