Good afternoon and welcome to The42′s coverage of the Leinster SHC semi-final between Kilkenny and Wexford at Nowlan Park.

The Cats have won the last five championship meetings between the sides and Brian Cody’s men will be favourites to prevail today as they begin their 2015 campaign.

However, a large number of their panel have since retired – including Henry Shefflin, and it remains to be seen if they are still the beast of previous years.

There’s only one way to find out – throw-in is at 2pm.

The Leinster Hurling Minor championship semi-final has just finished at Nowlan Park with Kilkenny beating Laois 2-18 to 0-11. We’ll have a full report on the site shortly.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Here’s a look at the teams ahead of today’s game.

Brian Cody has included 12 of the side that defeated in last year’s All Ireland final replay against Tipperary in his starting XV for their opening championship game of the summer.

Kilkenny:

1. Eoin Murphy (Glenmore)

2. Paul Murphy (Danesfort)
3. Joey Holden (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
4. Jackie Tyrrell (James Stephens)

5. Padraig Walsh (Tullaroan)
6. Kieran Joyce (Rower Inistioge)
7. Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro)

8. Michael Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
9. Conor Fogarty (Erins Own)

10. Walter Walsh (Tullogher Rosbercon)
11. Richie Hogan (Danesfort)
12. TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks)

13. Ger Aylward (Glenmore)
14. Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
15. Eoin Larkin (James Stephens)

Wexford, meanwhile, have made to changes with Jack Guiney controversially dropped with Ciaran Kenny and Shane Tomkins drafted in.

Wexford

1. Mark Fanning (Glynn Barntown)

2. Liam Ryan (Rapparees)
3. Matthew O’Hanlon (St James’)
4. Eoin Moore (Oulart the Ballagh)

5. Andrew Shore (Davidstown/Courtnacuddy)
6. Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers)
7. Ciaran Kenny (Buffers Alley)

8. David Redmond (Oulart the Ballagh)
9. Diarmuid O’Keeffe (St Annes)

10. Shane Tomkins (Askamore/Kilrush)
11. Daithi Waters (St Martin’s)
12. Ian Byrne (Ferns St Aidan’s)

13. Paul Morris (Ferns St Aidan’s)
14. Conor McDonald (Naomh Eanna)
15. Liam Og McGovern (St Annes)

RTÉ’s coverage has just begun with Ger Loughnanne labelling today as a ‘defining’ one in the championship summer. He goes onto say all four sides – Tipperary and Limerick to follow at 4pm – in action will be desperate to avoid the ‘lottery of the qualifiers’ and will treat today’s matches as a final in themselves.

Not long until the action gets underway but to pass the time, here’s 6 talking points to digest before this Leinster SHC semi.

There’s a late change for Kilkenny with Colin Fennelly dropping out and John Power stepping in.

Lovely summer’s day in Kilkenny with a full house of 20,000 crammed inside Nowlan Park for this hotly anticipated clash. We’ll have a minute’s silence for the victims of the Berkeley tragedy before we get started.

Kilkenny captain Joey Holden wins the toss and it’s first blood to the Cats. They’ve opted to play into the strong breeze in this first period.

Beautifully observed minute’s silence with the flags away to the left, at half-mast, fluttering in the strong breeze. As Marty Morrissey said on commentary, our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the six Irish students who lost their lives in that tragic accident.

We’re underway – Wexford have the wind at their back.

Kilkenny 0-1 Wexford 0-1: Both sides are on the board early doors with Ian Byrne getting Wexford off to a flyer only for John Power to level proceedings immediately.

Kilkenny 0-1 Wexford 0-2: Great atmosphere at Nowlan Park as Ian Byrne slots over a free to give Liam Dunne’s side the lead for the second time in the opening four minutes.

Kilkenny 0-2 Wexford 0-2: It’s been a scrappy start to the game with a lot of tension in the air. Kilkenny are level once more as Ger Aylward splits the posts. At the other end, Wexford spurn a glorious opportunity.

Kilkenny 0-2 Wexford 0-3: Ian Byrne and Conor McDonald failed to capitalise on a promising position as the ball went wide but the former fires over his third point not long after.

Kilkenny 2-3 Wexford 0-3: Kilkenny clicking into gear now as Richie Hogan finds the net and then sets-up Aylward to create daylight between the sides.

Kilkenny 2-4 Wexford 0-4: Liam Dunne’s side have been rocked and Hogan adds another point.

Kilkenny 2-4 Wexford 0-5: The Cats are scything through Wexford’s defence and after Eoin Larkin is thwarted by Mark Fanning, an almighty goal mouth scramble ensues before the sliotar ends in the net.

The referee eventually awards a free out and Wexford come away unscathed.

Kilkenny 2-4 Wexford 0-5:  Great chance for Wexford goes begging! For the second time in this opening twenty minutes, the Slaneysiders spurn a glorious opportunity to reduce the deficit but Liam Og McGovern can’t convert with the goal at his mercy.

Kilkenny 2-5 Wexford 0-6: Wexford are hanging in there and David Redmond takes full advantage after Kilkenny gave possession away in midfield.

Almost immediately, however, the Cats hit back; John Power with the score.

Kilkenny 2-5 Wexford 0-7: The game has just settled down after that frantic period. Ian Byrne scores his fourth point of the game and then wastes the chance to add another with a ’65.

Kilkenny 2-5 Wexford 0-8: It’s a three point game as Byrne makes no mistake this time.

Kilkenny 3-5 Wexford 0-8: TJ Reid is hauled down by Byrne as he bears down on goal and he makes no mistake from the penalty with a powerful strike into the corner past Mark Fanning.

Kilkenny 3-5 Wexford 0-9: Byrne with a monster free as we approach half-time.

Kilkenny 3-6 Wexford 0-10: Kilkenny have been dominant in the air and Aylward has acres of space to collect and dissect the posts. Byrne has been equally impressive as he fires over another free to ensure Wexford stay in touch.

Kilkenny 3-7 Wexford 0-10: Reid adds another point as we enter added time in this first-half. Richie Hogan is unable to stretch the lead as his ’65 sails wide.

And that’s half-time at Nowlan Park with Kilkenny dominant.

Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Kilkenny have been in the ascendancy from the early stages of this contest but Wexford have kept themselves in touch. The margin stands at six points and Liam Dunne’s side aren’t out of this but they’ll need a big performance in the second-half.

Both sides back on the pitch and away we go.

We’ve a brief stoppage as the referee receives attention from the Kilkenny medical staff. It appeared Diarmuid Kirwan fell awkwardly but replays show he was clipped on the leg with a hurl from the throw-in.

Kilkenny 3-10 Wexford 0-13: Eoin Larkin and TJ Reid continue to keep Kilkenny ticking over as David Redmond, Ian Byrne and Liam Og McGovern add scores for Wexford.

Kilkenny 3-11 Wexford 0-13: Richie Hogan’s superb form continues as he creates a yard of space before firing over from a relatively tight angle.

Kilkenny 3-12 Wexford 0-13: Brian Cody’s side are just threatening to pull clear as Hogan converts.

Kilkenny 4-13 Wexford 0-13: That should be that. TJ Reid powers through midfield and sets-up Ger Aylward to fire clinically home.

Kilkenny 4-15 Wexford 0-14: The All Ireland champions are running riot now as they continue to score freely. There is now 13 points between the sides.

Kilkenny 5-16 Wexford 0-14: Kilkenny are showing no mercy with Ger Aylward completing his hat-trick before Richie Hogan adds another point shortly after.

Kilkenny 5-17 Wexford 0-15: Cillian Buckley gets his name on the scoreboard with a first point of the game. Byrne adds another for Wexford but it’s mere consolation at this stage with both sides making substitutions.

Kilkenny 5-18 Wexford 0-15: The lead stretches to 18 points as Hogan adds to his tally.

Kilkenny 5-24 Wexford 0-16: Reid and Aylward on the mark once more as Kilkenny move closer to the Leinster decider against Galway on 5 July.

Wexford are put out their misery as Kilkenny coast into the Leinster SHC final against Galway at Croke Park. A ruthless performance from Brian Cody’s men sees them run out comfortable winners.

Well that was a demolition and Kilkenny have laid down a marker in their opening game of the summer. We’ll have a report from Nowlan Park on the site imminently and you cam follow Limerick’s clash with Tipperary here.