Good evening everyone and welcome to this evening’s EirGrid U21 football championship liveblog. Jackie Cahill here taking you through the action.

Our main focus is on Munster, where there are two semi-finals down for decision. Cork travel to Dungarvan to take on Waterford, and Kerry host Limerick in Tralee. We’ll also be keeping an eye on developments in the EirGrid Leinster U21 championship, where there’s a semi-final between Kildare and Westmeath down for decision at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise.

And here are this evening’s EirGrid Ulster U21 football championship quarter-final fixtures:

Monaghan v Fermanagh, Inniskeen, 8pm
Down v Armagh, Páirc Esler, Newry, 8pm
Cavan v Tyrone, Kingspan Breffni Park, 8pm
Donegal v Derry, Ballybofey, 8pm

Here are the Waterford and Cork teams for this evening’s EirGrid Munster U21 FC semi-final at Fraher Field in Dungarvan. Throw-in there is at 7.30pm.

Waterford

1. Kevin Dwane (Ballinacourty)

2. Ciarán O’Neill (Brickey Rangers)
3. Stephen Dalton (De La Salle)
4. Dermot Ryan (The Nire)

5. William Hahessy (Rathgormack)
6. Aidan Dwyer (Geraldines)
7. Jack Mullaney (Stradbally)

8. David Gartland (Ardmore)
9. Conor Prunty (Ballinacourty)

10. Liam Mulligan (Rathgormack)
11. Eoin O’Brien (Stradbally)
12. Jason Curry (Rathgormack)

13. Conor Murray (Rathgormack)
14. Tom Devine (Modeligo)
15. Fearghal Ó Cuirrín (An Rinn)

Cork

1. Anthony Casey (Kiskeam)

2. Dylan Quinn (St Finbarrs)
3. John Mullins (Eire Og)
4. Michael McSweeney (Newcestown)

5. Kevin Flahive (Douglas)
6. Stephen Cronin (Nemo Rangers)
7. Kieran Histon (Cobh)

8. Sean White (Clonakilty)
9. Ronan O’Toole (Eire Og)

10. Don O’Driscoll (Clann na Gael)
11. Sean O’Donoghue (Inniscarra)
12. Ryan Harkin (Mallow)

13. Brian Coakley (Carrigaline)
14. Peter Kelleher (Kilmichael)
15. Michael Hurley (Castlehaven)

Subs

16. Ross Donovan (Nemo Rangers)
17. Kevin Cremin (Boherbue)
18. Eoin Lavers (Dohenys)
19. Cian Kiely (Ballincollig)
20. Sean O Leary (Bantry Blues)
21. Stephen Sherlock (St Finbarrs)
22. Mick Dineen (Naomh Aban)
23. Sean O Donovan (Ilen Rovers)
24. Cian Dorgan (Ballincollig)

One of the Waterford senior hurlers, Tom Devine, is at full-forward for the county’s U21 footballers this evening. You might recall that Devine was one of the winners of Ireland’s Fittest Family last year. He spoke to us in December and you can read his thoughts here.

There are five senior footballers on the Limerick U21 team to play Kerry in Tralee – including captain Sean O’Dea, a Sigerson Cup winner with UCD recently. The others with senior experience are Stephen Cahill, Cillian Fahy, Brian Fanning and Cian Sheehan.

Here’s a check on their team:

And here’s the Kerry team named by Jack O’Connor to face the Shannonsiders:

Kerry U21 (v Limerick)

1. Eoghan O’Brien (Churchill)

2. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht)
3. Cathal Ó Lúing (An Ghaeltacht)
4. Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle)

5. Brian Sugrue (Renard)
6. Andrew Barry (Na Gael)
7. Gavin White (Dr Crokes)

8. Barry O’Sullivan (Dingle)
9. Matthew O’Sullivan (St Michaels-Foilmore)

10. David Foran (St Senans)
11. Micheál Burns (Dr Crokes)
12. Brian Ó Seanacháin (Ballydonoghue)

13. Tony Brosnan (Dr Crokes)
14. Killian Spillane (Templenoe)
15. Jack Savage (c) (Kerins O’Rahillys)

Subs

16. Darragh O’Shea (Ballydonoghue)
17. Greg Horan (Austin Stacks)
18. Eanna Ó Conchúir (An Ghaeltacht)
19. Dara Roche (Glenflesk)
20. Dan O’Donoghue (Spa)
21. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue)
22. Conor Geaney (Dingle)
23. Tom (Leo) O’Sullivan (Dingle)
24. Jordan Kiely (Dr Crokes)

Here’s a look back at how Cork and Kerry did in their respective quarter-finals. First off, it was a comfortable outing for the Rebels against Clare. Read the report from that game here. 

It was far more difficult for Kerry in their quarter-final clash with last year’s winners Tipperary, but despite finishing the game with 14 men, the Kingdom prevailed. Here’s the match report.

We’ll be back in plenty of time for throw-in in all of tonight’s games.

Here’s a rundown of all of tonight’s fixtures in the EirGrid U21 football championship: ]

Leinster semi-final
Westmeath v Kildare, O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, 7.30pm

Munster semi-finals
Kerry v Limerick, Austin Stack Park, Tralee, 7.30pm
Waterford v Cork, Fraher Field, Dungarvan, 7.30pm

Ulster quarter-finals
Monaghan v Fermanagh, Inniskeen, 8pm
Down v Armagh, Páirc Esler, Newry, 8pm
Cavan v Tyrone, Kingspan Breffni Park, 8pm
Donegal v Derry, Ballybofey, 8pm

It’s already been a good day for Kerry football, as St Brendan’s of Killarney made it through to the Hogan Cup final. I was in Nenagh earlier to see them do it and here’s the match report from a comfortable win.

Jack English a late replacement on the Limerick team, coming in for Cillian Fahy.

One late change for Cork, as Eoin Lavers comes into the team in place of Dylan Quinn.

And we’re underway.

Limerick ahead within half a minute, through corner forward Brian O’Donovan.

Ryan Harkin points Cork into the lead against Waterford in Dungarvan.

4 mins – Kerry 0-1 Limerick 0-1

Equalising free for Kerry from captain Jack Savage

2 mins – Waterford 0-0 Cork 0-2

Don O’Driscoll point for Cork.

6 mins – Kerry 0-1 Limerick 0-2

Super Limerick point from distance from Hugh Burke

7 mins – Kerry 0-1 Limerick 0-3

Hugh Burke with his second point, this time a free.

4 mins – Waterford 0-0 Cork 0-3

Michael Hurley with Cork’s 3rd point

7 mins – Kerry 0-2 Limerick 0-3

Killian Spillane responds with a Kerry point

9 mins – Kerry 0-3 Limerick 0-3

Jack Savage pops over a close-range free for Kerry.

Peter Kelleher denied a goal by a superb save from Waterford goalkeeper Kevin Dwane.

11 mins – Kerry 0-4 Limerick 0-3

Kerry hit the front through Tony Brosnan.

11 mins – Waterford 0-0 Cork 0-4

One-way traffic in Dungarvan so far as Brian Coakley points a free for Cork.

13 mins – Kerry 0-5 Limerick 0-3

Jack Savage picking up where he left off against Tipp, and clips over a point from play.

After 16 minutes in Portlaoise, Kildare in cruise control so far against Westmeath, leading by 0-7 to 0-0. Ulster’s quarter-finals throw-in at 8pm.

Let off for Limerick as Kerry’s Tony Brosnan smacks a shot off the crossbar.

17 mins – Kerry 0-6 Limerick 0-3

Brosnan’s shot deflects off the crossbar and over.

Score correction: Kerry 0-5 Limerick 0-4

Limerick hanging in there, within a point of the Kingdom.

Cork are 0-5 to 0-0 ahead against Waterford and Peter Kelleher has rattled the crossbar. Another let-off for Waterford.

Goal for Westmeath at O’Moore Park. Jack Quinn has scored it and hauls the Lake County back into contention. They trail though by 1-0 to 0-7 against Kildare.

Paddy Fagan with a point for Westmeath, who have found their feet and trail Kildare by just three points now, 1-1 to 0-7.

Eight minutes without a score in Dungarvan, and counting.

Latest scores: 

Kerry 0-5 Limerick 0-5
Waterford 0-0 Cork 0-6
Kildare 0-8 Westmeath 1-1

Hugh Burke levels for Limerick in Tralee as Brian Coakley tags on another Cork point.

24 mins – Kerry 0-6 Limerick 0-5

That man Jack Savage nudges Kerry ahead again.

23 mins – Waterford 0-0 Cork 0-7

Coakley with another Cork point

25 mins – Kerry 0-7 Limerick 0-5

Killlian Spillane’s second point from play and Kerry move two clear.

28 mins – Waterford 0-0 Cork 0-8

Cork look to have this one done and dusted already, as Sean O’Donoghue adds a point.

Half-time: Kerry 0-7 Limerick 0-5

Half-time: Kildare 0-9 Westmeath 1-2

Half-time: Waterford 0-0 Cork 0-8

It’s looking like a Cork-Kerry EirGrid Munster U21 football final. Second halves of both games to come. We’ll be back shortly.

Early lead for Cavan in the EirGrid Ulster U21 FC quarter-final against All-Ireland champions Tyrone. 0-3 to 0-1 the Breffni boys are ahead.

EirGrid Ulster U21 FC quarter-finals

Latest scores:

Derry 0-1 Donegal 0-2
Down 0-0 Armagh 1-2
Monaghan 0-1 Fermanagh 0-0
Tyrone 0-1 Cavan 0-4

Almost about to get underway in the second halves of this evening’s EirGrid Munster U21 FC semi-finals, and the Leinster semi-final between Kildare and Westmeath.

GOAL FOR CORK!

31 mins – Waterford 0-0 Cork 0-9

Peter Kelleher opens Cork’s second half account. The Rebels had nine first half wides.

31 mins – Waterford 0-0 Cork 1-9

And it’s Michael Hurley who gets it. Cork off to a flier in the second half.

GOAL FOR LIMERICK!

32 mins – Kerry 0-8 Limerick 1-5

Killian Ryan with Kerry’s goal but Kerry respond with an equalising point from Killian Spillane.

Kerry had it tough against Tipperary in the quarter-final and they’re being given plenty of it by Limerick this evening too.

GOAL FOR KERRY!

35 mins – Kerry 1-8 Limerick 1-5

Tony Brosnan finishes it off after good work by captain Jack Savage.

34 mins – Waterford 0-0 Cork 1-10

Cork rampant in Dungarvan as Don O’Driscoll adds another point.

36 mins – Kerry 1-8 Limerick 1-6

Limerick not lying down as they tag on another point.

37 mins – Waterford 0-0 Cork 1-11

Sean O’Donoghue with Cork’s latest point.

35 mins – Kildare 0-10 Westmeath 1-2

Chris Healy opens the second half scoring with a Kildare point in Portlaoise.

GOAL FOR CORK!

38 mins – Waterford 0-0 Cork 2-11

Massacre now in Dungarvan as Brian Coakley scores Cork’s second goal.

GOAL FOR LIMERICK!

39 mins – Kerry 1-8 Limerick 2-6

Brian Fanning with the Limerick goal, and the Shannonsiders lead again!

40 mins – Kerry 1-9 Limerick 2-6

Level in Tralee as Jack Savage knocks over a free for Kerry.

With the game in Dungarvan done and dusted, we’ll stay in Tralee for the time being.

43 mins – Waterford 0-0 Cork 2-12

The only question really left to be answered in Dungarvan is whether or not Waterford can register a score. Brian Coakley has kicked Cork’s 12th point, a free.

40 mins – Kildare 0-12 Westmeath 1-3

Points from Con Kavanagh and Neil Flynn for Kildare to stretch their lead.

46 mins – Kerry 1-10 Limerick 2-6

Killian Spillane’s fourth point for Kerry.

GOAL FOR CORK!

48 mins – Waterford 0-1 Cork 3-12

Don O’Driscoll with Cork’s third goal before Waterford finally get off the mark with a Jason Curry point.

48 mins – Kerry 1-11 Limerick 2-6

Killian Spillane with his 5th point of the night for Kerry.

50 mins – Kerry 1-11 Limerick 2-7

Hugh Burke cuts the gap to a point with a Limerick free.

EirGrid Ulster U21 FC quarter-finals

Half-time scores: 

Derry 0-3 Donegal 0-9
Down 0-3 Armagh 3-8
Monaghan 0-5 Fermanagh 0-3 (L)
Tyrone 0-6 Cavan 0-5

54 mins – Waterford 0-1 Cork 3-15

The Rebels add points from Stephen Sherlock, Cian Dorgan and Mick Dineen.

47 mins – Kildare 0-14 Westmeath 1-3

The Lilywhites on course for the Leinster final.

57 mins – Waterford 0-5 Cork 3-15

Jason Curry with a free for Waterford, and his second point.

Still a point between the sides in Tralee, Kerry with the advantage.

57 mins – Kerry 1-12 Limerick 2-7

Jordan Kiely with a crucial score for Kerry.

GOAL FOR KILDARE!

58 mins – Kildare 1-15 Westmeath 1-3

Neil Flynn nets a penalty for Kildare.

60 mins – Kerry 1-12 Limerick 2-8

Brian Fanning cuts the deficit to just a point in Tralee, 3 minutes into 5 minutes of stoppage time.

Full-time: Waterford 0-2 Cork 3-18

60 mins – Kerry 1-14 Limerick 2-8

Barra O’Suilleabhain and Jordan Kiely with the insurance scores for Kerry.

Full-time: Kerry 1-14 Limerick 2-8

Full-time: Kildare 1-16 Westmeath 1-3

That’s it from our liveblog from this evening. In Munster, it will be a Cork-Kerry final in the EirGrid Munster U21 football championship, as Kildare progress to the Leinster decider. This evening’s Ulster quarter-finals still in progress, stay logged in for a round-up of those matches shortly.

Stay logged in for match reports from the Munster semi-finals, and the Leinster semi-final. Many thanks for joining us.