AND SO IT continues…

We’re in the middle of another busy championship Sunday, with provincial action in full flow yet again this weekend. There are games underway in Ulster and Leinster already, but we’re going to focus on the 4pm football and hurling throw-ins in the latter province:

• Leinster SHC: Galway v Wexford — Pearse Stadium, 4pm (live on RTÉ 2)
• Leinster SFC: Kildare v Longford — O’Connor Park, 4pm

Of course, we’ll bring you updates from elsewhere around the country in the meantime, along will all the build-up for the above. Stay with us.

A quick trip up to Ulster, and to Brewster Park.

• Donegal 0-8 Fermanagh 0-6

It’s not been the prettiest of encounters, but the hosts are staying in touch with the 2018 champions. We’re 10 minutes or so into the second half, by the way.

And our GAA Editor Fintan O’Toole is at O’Connor Park, Tullamore, for the Leinster SFC double-header there. Westmeath-Laois is first up before the meeting of Kildare and Longford at 4pm. 

It’s Laois 0-9 Westmeath 0-5 with 45 minutes or so played.

Great to see Paddy McBrearty back in full flight after the devastating cruciate injury he sustained last summer.

55 minutes gone, Donegal are 0-10 to 0-8 up.

Patrick McBrearty with a point from right out by the sideline pic.twitter.com/zMl2KIrjlK

— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 26, 2019

Our focus is back on Galway and Wexford for a minute, with the teams here for the all-important 4pm throw-in:

Galway

1. Colm Callanan (Kinvara)

2. Jack Grealish (Gort)
3. Daithí Burke (Turloughmore)
4. Aidan Harte (Gort)

5. Padraic Mannion (Ahascragh Fohenagh)
6. Gearoid McInerney (Oranmore Maree)
7. Kevin Hussey (Turloughmore)

8. Johnny Coen (Loughrea)
9. David Burke (Capt.) (St. Thomas’ — captain)

10. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh Fohenagh)
11. Niall Burke (Oranmore Maree)
12. Jason Flynn (Tommy Larkins)

13. Conor Whelan (Kinvara)
14. Conor Cooney (St. Thomas’)
15. Brian Concannon (Killimordaly)

Wexford

Wexford GAA. Wexford GAA.

Five minutes to go, three points in it at Brewster Park…

Donegal 0-12 Fermanagh 0-9

Flick over to BBC Two NI if you want to catch the ending.

68 minutes played in O’Connor Park and it’s Laois 0-11 Westmeath 0-10.

Just as the clock strikes 70, McBrearty sends Donegal into a four-point lead.

But it’s a much tighter affair in Tullamore. Laois are one up as we enter three minutes of added time. 0-11 to 0-10… sit tight.

Six minutes added on in Ulster however, but the deal should most certainly be sealed there. Michael Murphy has just put five between the sides and it’s Donegal 0-14 Fermanagh 0-9.

Laois have done it!

Fintan O'Toole Twitter. Fintan O'Toole Twitter.

And it’s all over in Ulster too…

Ulster GAA Twitter. Ulster GAA Twitter.

So, now we can really focus on the 4pm throw-ins. We’ve brought you the teams for Galway and Wexford’s Leinster SHC showdown in Salthill, but here’s a look at how Kildare and Longford will line out in Tullamore:

Kildare 

1. Mark Donnellan (Maynooth)

2. Mark Dempsey (Moorefield)
3. David Hyland (Athy)
4. Mark Hyland (Athy)

5. Peter Kelly (Two Mile House)
6. Eoin Doyle (Naas)
7. Keith Cribbin (Johnstownbridge)

8. Kevin Feely (Athy)
9. Fergal Conway (Celbridge)

10. David Slattery (Confey)
11. Ben McCormack (Sarsfields)
12. Eoghan O’Flaherty (Carbury)

13. Adam Tyrrell (Moorefield)
14. Paddy Brophy (Celbridge)
15. Neil Flynn (Maynooth)

Longford

1. Paddy Colum (Fr Manning Gaels)

2. Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta St Columba’s)
3. Andrew Farrell (Cashel)
4. Barry O’Farrell (Carickedmond)

5. Colm P Smyth (Abbeylara)
6. Padraig McCormack (Killoe Young Emmets)
7. Darren Quinn (Clonguish)

8. John Keegan (Mullinalaghta St Columba’s)
9. David McGivney (Mullinalaghta St Columba’s)

10. Gary Rogers (Mullinalaghta St Columba’s)
11. Barry McKeon (Colmcille)
12. Michael Quinn (Killoe Young Emmets)

13. Daniel Mimnagh (Killoe Young Emmets)
14. James McGivney (Mullinalaghta St Columba’s)
15. Liam Connerton (Rathcline)

Oisin Keniry / INPHO Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO

They’re without this man, but who’ll step up for the Tribe today?

Davy and his boys are ready to go too, it seems…

“No one’s giving us a chance here today,” he’s just told RTÉ. “We need to go out and fight like we’ve never fought before.”

Oisin Keniry / INPHO Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO

Oisin Keniry / INPHO Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO

Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

Michéal Donghue’s Galway line out as named. There’s a late Wexford change: Cathal Dunbar starts instead of Jack O’Connor at half-forward.

And Fintan O’Toole has the pre-match team news in Tullamore. A change to the Longford 15, while Kildare line out as per programme.

Fintan O'Toole Twitter. Fintan O'Toole Twitter.

Jaysis… there’s two late, LATE changes to the Galway team after all.

Galway GAA Twitter. Galway GAA Twitter.

Marty’s telling us that Wexford are lining out in their alternative new yellow strip for the first time today, while Galway don the white kit in Salthill. The anthem’s done and dusted, the atmosphere’s electric and we’re ready to go….

1 min – Galway 0-0 Wexford 0-0

The ball’s in and we’re off. Wexford won the toss, and have decided to play from left to right. Lee Chin with the first effort, it’s a free and it’s sent wide – before his fellow number 10, Cathal Mannion, hits a wide at the other end.

1 min – Kildare 0-1 Longford 0-0

The Lilywhites open the scoring through David Hyland.

4 mins – Galway 0-1 Wexford 0-0

Two more wides… Lee Chin’s straight-forward free goes wayward while Johnny Coen’s effort is off target at the other end.  

Galway are up and running. Niall Burke makes no mistake with a free from just inside his own 65. Important one, as Joe Canning would normally slot them.

6 mins – Galway 0-2 Wexford 0-0

Another wide, but Jason Flynn then fires the Tribe’s second – and it’s straight from the puck out.

7 mins – Kildare 0-4 Longford 0-0

Ben McCormack finishes a nice Kildare team move before Adam Tyrrell and David Hyland follow suit.

10 mins – Galway 0-4 Wexford 0-0

We have a blood sub in a windy Salthill — and a few more wides, namely from Wexford. Shane Reck is in for his brother Damien. Conor Whelan grabs Galway’s third.

They follow up with a superb goal chance but the Wexford keeper produces a brilliant save. Problems from the puckout and in defence there. Burke adds a 65.

10 mins – Kildare 0-4 Longford 0-1

Longford are off the mark in Tullamore. David McGivney free.

12 mins – Kildare 0-4 Longford 0-2

McGivney with another free.

13 mins – Galway 0-4 Wexford 0-0

Davy Fitz’s men are still looking for their first score with 13 minutes gone. They’ve found their rhythm to some extent, but an excellent team move ends up with a wide at the end, and Chin tags on another.

A taste of the action in Salthill…

Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

Oisin Keniry / INPHO Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO

And a snapshot from Tullamore…

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

15 mins – Kildare 0-5 Longford 0-5

All square after Longford claw their way back. End-to-end stuff. David and James McGivney make it 0-4 a-piece, before Adam Tyrrell and Daniel Mimnagh trade scores.

18 mins – Galway 0-6 Wexford 0-0

Wexford’s atrocious start continues. They’ve just hit their seventh wide – Chin and Liam Óg McGovern the latest suspects.

Niall Burke (free) and Whelan push Galway on at the other end.

19 mins – Longford 0-7 Kildare 0-7

Mimnagh pushed Longford into a momentary lead there but the Lillies have just struck back through Adam Tyrrell.

21 mins – Longford 1-7 Kildare 0-8

Darragh Doherty with the goal before Eoghan O’Flaherty responds with a free at the other end.

22 mins – Galway 0-6 Wexford 0-2

And after 22 minutes, Wexford are off the mark. A Chin free first, and then Aidan Nolan from play.

Wide watch in Salthill: Galway 8 Wexford 7… not great after 24 minutes, eh?

25 mins – Galway 0-7 Wexford 0-2

David Burke splits the posts to bring the gap to five. It’s fairly scrappy here in the West. Conor Cooney is down and looks to be in pain after a bit of messing with the ball from both sides. Wait, he’s up again and seems to be okay…

27 mins – Longford 1-7 Kildare 0-10

Ben McCormack and Paddy Brophy with the Kildare scores to level matters.

30 mins – Galway 0-8 Wexford 0-3

Niall Burke with a simple tap over from a free before the goal. Galway had a small goal chance there with David Burke bursting through but he’s hooked at the right time. Lee Chin slots over a free at the other end, his second of the game. 

30 mins – Kildare 0-11 Longford 1-7 

Fergal Conway scores a fine point to put Kildare back into the lead. 

This Galway-Wexford match is fairly cat… Rory O’Connor plays a strange pass/shot (?) into the area, Colm Callanan comes out but fails to gather and knocks it out for a 65. 

Chin raises a white flag from it though.. it’s Galway 0-8 Wexford 0-4.

31 mins – Kildare 0-11 Wexford 1-8

Mimnagh with a brilliant point to pull Galway back level.

34 mins – Kildare 1-11 Longford 1-8

Adam Tyrrell with the Kildare goal. Exactly what Kildare needed before half time. We’ll have three added minutes.

36 mins – Galway 0-10 Wexford 0-4

Conor Cooney with his first of the day before Conor Whelan continues to trouble the Wexford defence as he brings Galway into double figures. Six points in it, three minutes added on in Salthill too.

Half-time: Kildare 1-12 Longford 1-8

Tyrrell, the goalscorer, kicks the last point and Kildare are in a four-point lead.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Half-time: Galway 0-10 Wexford 0-4

Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

So, what do we reckon? Not a great half of hurling anyway, but what about the football? 

Fintan O'Toole Twitter. Fintan O'Toole Twitter.

It’s obviously windy in Salthill, but lads, c’moooon….

Here’s a look at the scorecard from Galway:

RTÉ Player. RTÉ Player.

Let’s not even start on the wides….

Former Meath All-Ireland winner Bernard Flynn is impressed with what he’s seeing in Tullamore:

Galway v Wexford Half-Time Highlights. pic.twitter.com/IhFokEkEXy

— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 26, 2019

36 mins – Galway 0-10 Wexford 0-5

And we’re back underway… Super score from Diarmuid O’Keeffe. The start Wexford really needed. Niall Burke’s free against the wind goes wide at the other end.

Hmm…

Longford GAA Twitter. Longford GAA Twitter.

36 mins – Kildare 1-13 Longford 1-8

Well, we’re back now and Adam Tyrrell has his fifth point.

41 mins – Galway 0-11 Wexford 0-5

Flynn from a free and Galway are driving on. Jonny Glynn is on for Niall Burke. Conor Whelan is causing havoc in there.

Davy is fighting on the line…. a few words with the fourth official, he’s very unhappy after an off-the-ball challenge on Damien Reck.

He’s been sent to the stand by the referee to cheers from the Galway support. 

Wexford man down hurt, Davy protests, asked to sit in the stand. Free to Galway, Jason Flynn taps it over, 0-5 to 0-11.

— Wexford GAA (@OfficialWexGAA) May 26, 2019

46 mins – Galway 0-13 Wexford 0-6

Bit more life to this game now. Cathal Dunbar with a brilliant point at the other end. Jonny Glynn announces himself to the game with a powerful run, he’s taken down by Kevin Foley who sees yellow, and Jason Flynn fires over the free.

42 mins – Kildare 1-15 Longford 1-9

Kildare are pulling away now — Conor Hartley and David Hyland push them on, but David McGivney pulls one back for Longford.

49 mins – Galway 0-13 Wexford 0-8

Chin with a much-needed score from a free for Wexford as Davy Fitz opts for a double-substitution from the stands. Two attackers in: Jack O’Connor and Paul Morris, with Paudie Foley an Aidan Nolan making way.

50 mins – Galway 0-14 Wexford 0-8

Cathal Mannion with his first of the day.

Daithi Burke sees yellow but judging by the replay on TV, it seemed harsh. Handy enough free for Wexford, and Chin taps it over to keep the Yellowbellies in touch. 0-14 to 0-9 with 20 minutes of normal time or so remaining. A goal would change everything.

Wides, wides and more wides… that’s all to report from Salthill, really.

In Tullamore meanwhile, Longford and Kildare have both been enjoying spells of possession but we’ve had no scores in the last few.

56 mins – Galway 0-14 Wexford 0-11

Just four in it now. Jack O’Connor with an influential point from distance after good work from Damien Reck in the build-up.

By God, much better. Cathal Dubar has fired over another and suddenly, there’s three in it. 

58 mins – Galway 0-14 Wexford 0-13

Lee Chin with a free, before Rory O’Connor hits his second of the match. The momentum is undoubtedly swinging towards Wexford. One in it, Galway haven’t scored in nine minutes.

59 mins – Galway 0-14 Wexford 0-14

Here we go, we’re level! Game on…

54 mins – Kildare 1-15 Longford 2-11

Kildare are still up by one, but Longford’s Mark Hughes has just rattled the net.

Bad to worse for Galway. Jason Flynn sends a free wide from right in front of the posts. Wexford are on the hunt…. and they go one up!

63 mins – Wexford 0-15 Galway 0-14

Murphy sends one over to put Davy Fitz’s men in the lead.

58 mins – Kildare 1-16 Longford 2-11

The perfect response from the Lilywhites in Tullamore, as Tyrrell fires over another free.

Sportsfile Twitter. Sportsfile Twitter.

Wonderful defending from Wexford there — Jack O’Connor produces a game-saving tackle to keep Conor Cooney out when a goal looked certain. Jason Flynn scores the resultant 65, and it’s 0-15 a-piece. 67 minutes gone.

62 mins – Kildare 1-17 Longford 2-11

Another Tyrrell free has Kildare in a three-point lead down the home straight. He has 1-7.

68 mins – Galway 0-16 Wexford 0-16

Flynn at one end, McGovern at the other. Level… two minutes of normal time to go…

Probably a goal chance on for Galway there but they didn’t spot it as Loftus’ effort goes wide. Inches…. Clocks gone red. Four minutes of added time in Salthill.

One-point game in Tullamore… God. Hughes and Barry McKeon make it 1-17 to 2-13.

Such drama in Galway! Big goal chances at both ends but none go in. It’s still 0-16 a-piece… 72 minutes gone.

Those two efforts were both saved, by the way. A slow burner, but this game really sparked to life. Can either of them take it?

Mistakes all over the shop, but it makes it all the more exciting. Lee Chin goes for glory from distance but it’s well wide… 74 minutes, time for more?

No is the answer, and the full-tine whistle sounds. All over: Galway 0-16 Wexford 0-16.

70 mins – Kildare 1-17 Longford 2-14

Level!!!! Longford equalise in the last minute of normal time through Aidan McElliot. Four minutes added on… here we go.

Fintan O'Toole Twitter. Fintan O'Toole Twitter.

All eyes on this one….

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Full-time: Longford 2-14 Kildare 1-17

And we’re off to extra-time….

Fintan O'Toole Twitter. Fintan O'Toole Twitter.

A moment to breathe there before the extra-time in Tullamore, but here’s a look at a very basic Leisnter SHC table:

Kilkenny 4

Galway 3

Wexford 2

Dublin 1

Carlow 0

All to play for!

Galway have Kilkenny away and Dublin away to finish, Wexford at home to Carlow and then Kilkenny. Going to be an exciting few weeks.

What did you make of that Galway-Wexford game though?

Oisin Keniry / INPHO Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO

From Fintan O’Toole in Tullamore:

Kildare faded badly there in second half. Outscored Longford 1-8 to 0-1 between 21st and 42nd minutes, then only scored 0-2 thereafter and both were frees from Adam Tyrrell.

Extra-time should be exciting. We’ll be back with that here, while you can read the Wexford-Galway match report on The42 in the coming minutes.

Full-time highlights and the match report from Salthill, if you’re looking:

• Wexford shake off slow start to grind out draw with Galway 

Galway v Wexford Full-Time Highlights pic.twitter.com/OYexUyCaOP

— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 26, 2019

We’re back underway at O’Connor Park.

2 mins ET – Kildare 1-19 Longford 2-14

Kildare with two quickfire points to send them on their way. David and Jimmy Hyland the scorers.

4 mins ET – Kildare 1-20 Longford 2-14

Ben McCormack adds another and the Lilywhites are in the driving seat.

5 mins ET – Kildare 1-20 Longford 2-15

James McGivney pulls one back for Longford.

8 mins ET – Kildare 1-21 Longford 2-15

Jimmy Hyland again, and Kildare are back in a three-point lead as the end of the first period nears.

Michael Quinn with the Longford goal in the 81st minute. What a game this is. 

Seems to have been a problem with the update there, but Longford grabbed a goal in the 10th minute of extra-time there so it’s 3-15 to 1-21.

HT ET: Kildare 1-21 Longford 3-15

Or 24 points a-piece…

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Fintan O'Toole Twitter. Fintan O'Toole Twitter.

We’re three-and-a-half minutes into the second half of extra-time. No change to the scoreline as of yet.

Tired bodies all over the field, it really is mind over matter now as the lads on Kfm are saying. You can listen in live here.

Sounds like there was an insane shoulder on Cian O’Donoghue there, play stopped for that. He’s back on his feet at the referee is throwing the ball up.

Daragh Doherty replaces Mark Hughes on the Longford side, David O’Callaghan comes in for David Slattery. Two-and-a-half minutes or so to go, should be more injury time too.

Near misses at both ends as we head towards the last minute of normal extra-tine. 3-15 to 1-21 still. Still level.

We’re heading for a replay as things stand….

Three minutes added on — some of that has been played though, with the board going up laye.

Full-time: Longford 3-15 Kildare 1-21

There was time left on the clock there? Longford were on the ball, and confusion all around.

But sure…. no one deserved to lose that one.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

We’ll have a replay in Tullamore next Sunday, 2 June at 3pm.

Reminder that the winner plays Dublin.

So that’s that. Another dramatic day of provincial championship action done and dusted, with both Galway and Wexford, and Kildare and Longford unable to be separated. 

Thanks for reading. We’ll be back with liveblogs aplenty next weekend, and reports, reaction and analysis of the action that’s been throughout the week.

Enjoy your evening, take it easy.