Welcome to Croke Park for this afternoon’s curtain-raiser: the All-Ireland minor hurling final between Galway and Limerick.

With Limerick’s seniors up against Clare later this afternoon, there are already plenty of green jerseys dotted around Headquarters. It’s nothing, one suspects, compared to the sea of colour which awaits at 3.30pm.

Throw-in for the minor game is at 1.30pm.

Before we get going, here are the teams:

Galway: Cathal Tuohy; Maidhc O Conghaile, Darragh O’Donoghue, Michael Connelly; Sean Linnane, Shane Cooney, Richard Doyle; Eanna Burke, Darragh Dolan (c); Conor Whelan, Ronan O’Meara, Adrian Morrissey; Brian Molloy, Brian Burke, Conor Shaughnessy.

Limerick: Colin Ryan; Sean Finn, Richard English (c), Michael Casey; Andrew La Touche Cosgrave, Ronan Lynch, Sean Flanagan; Darragh O’Donovan, Darragh Kennedy; Cian Lynch, Barry Nash, David Dempsey; Dean Coleman, Tom Morrissey, Pat Ryan.

A quick reminder that if this game finishes in a draw, there will be extra-time and throw-in for the senior semi-final will be pushed back.

We’re just about ready to go here with Limerick shooting into the Hill 16 end in this first half.

Limerick 0-2 Galway 0-0: 2 mins — Bizarre start here as Barry Nash looks to have opened scoring for Limerick with a clear point. Much to the confusion of the crowd, referee Fergal Horgan refers it to Hawk Eye — and the point is ruled a wide.

Eventually Cian Lynch and Dean Coleman open the scoring with quick points. Great start for Limerick.

Limerick 0-3 Galway 0-1: 5 mins — Conor Shaughnessy gets Galway’s first score but it’s quickly cancelled out at the other end by Cian Lynch’s second.

Limerick 0-3 Galway 0-2: 6 mins — Great fielding by Brian Burke who points for Galway.

Galway 0-4 Limerick 0-3: 10 mins – Galway have been on top for the last few minutes and they make their pressure count. Brian Molloy points a free into the Davin Stand and Adrian Morrissey follows it up with a point from play.

Galway 0-5 Limerick 0-3: 13 mins — Brian Molloy fires a 65′ over the bar.

Galway 0-5 Limerick 0-4: 15 mins — Limerick finally get a score on the board as Darragh O’Donovan pounces and booms over a point from near the 65.

They’ve a great goal chance as well but Barry Nash miscontrols at the vital moment and Galway recover.

Galway 0-6 Limerick 0-5: 17 mins – A Ronan Lynch free draws Limerick level but the parity doesn’t last long as Galway captain Darragh Dolan responds with a point of his own.

Galway 0-6 Limerick 0-6: 20 mins — Cian Lynch points for Limerick but the referee has already blown for a jersey pull by Ronan O’Meara and brings play back. Barry Nash does the honours to bring Limerick level with 10 minutes left in this half.

Limerick 0-7 Galway 0-6: 23 mins — Michael Conneely comes across and body checks Dean Coleman as he looks to skip back inside towards goal. Barry Nash drills his 21-yard free over the bar.

Limerick 0-7 Galway 0-7: 24 mins — Conor Whelan shakes off the attention of Sean Finn and points from an angle out on the left.

Limerick 0-8 Galway 0-7: 25 mins — Another straightforward free for Nash from in front of the posts.

Limerick 0-8 Galway 0-8: 29 mins – Brian Molloy levels it up with a 65 just before half-time.

One change for Limerick at the break. Seamus Flanagan is on to replace full-forward Tom Morrissey

Galway 0-9 Limerick 0-8: 33 mins – Brian Molloy points to send Galway back into the lead.

Galway 0-9 Limerick 0-9: 35 mins — Lovely solo run by Daragh O’Donovan down the left wing. He centres to David Dempsey who gathers at the second attempt before turning to point.

36 mins – OFF THE POST! Pat Ryan jumps to flick on Flanagan’s long ball and it hits the base of Cathal Tuohy’s post and bounces clear. Unlucky for Limerick and Galway scramble clear without conceding a score.

Substitution for Galway: Jack Hastings is on to replace Ronan O’Meara at centre-forward.

Galway 0-10 Limerick 0-9: 39 mins – Brian Molloy points another free into the hill and Galway lead again. Still nothing to choose between the sides.

41 mins — Another one for Hawk Eye as a Limerick effort is ruled wide. It even takes the machine a long time to make up its mind but eventually, the wide is confirmed.

Galway 0-10 Limerick 0-10: 42 mins — Barry Nash points his fourth free of the afternoon for Limerick and we’re all square again. Remember if the sides are still level on 60 minutes, we’ll have extra-time.

Galway 0-11 Limerick 0-11: 45 mins — Brilliant work out the field by Conor Shaughnessy who disrupts Limerick’s attempts to play the ball out. Jack Hastings finds Brian Burke who points.

But, unsurprisingly, Limerick come straight back down the field and Darragh Kennedy booms over a fine score.

Galway 0-12 Limerick o-11: 47 mins – Fine score by Adrian Morrissey and Galway get their noses back in front again.

Substitution for Limerick as Jamie Porter comes on for Michael Casey at corner-back.

48 mins — Golden opportunity for Limerick corner-forward Pat Ryan, who looks like he’s caught in two minds as he nears goal. In the end his half-hearted effort is right and wide.

49 mins — Ambitious effort by Brian Burke from 45 yards out. The angle is too difficult and he can’t hit the target. Galway still lead by a single point.

Galway 0-12 Limerick 0-12: 51 mins — We’re level again! The ball breaks to Barry Nash in the half-forward line and he takes aim before splitting Cathal Tuohy’s posts.

Galway make a chance in the half-back line with Vincent Doyle on to replace Richard Doyle.

Limerick 0-13 Galway 0-12: 53 mins – Another Nash free and for the first time this half, Limerick lead.

Limerick 0-14 Galway 0-13: 55 mins — Scores coming thick and fast but nothing to choose between the sides with five minutes to play. This has been enthralling.

57 mins -- Molloy misses a 65, much to the delight of the Limerick fans gathered on Hill 16.

Limerick 0-15 Galway 0-14: 58 mins – Another monster point by Darragh O’Donovan to put Limerick back in the lead. Two minutes to play and that could be crucial. What have Galway got left?

Cian Lynch has a chance to seal it for Limerick but it’s wide. 90 seconds to play…

Foul on Conor Shaughnessy and from 60 yards out, Brian Molloy will have a chance to level the match…

Limerick 0-15 Galway 0-15: 60 mins — No mistake. 45 seconds to play plus an additional minute.

Galway 0-16 Limerick 0-15: 60+1 mins — Morrissey points for Galway. Is that it?

NO, IT’S NOT! Limerick have a free into the Canal End to level it. Ronan Lynch to take…

Galway 0-16 Limerick 0-16: 60+2 mins — Cool as you like, Lynch slots it. And that’s it.

FULL TIME: Galway 0-16 Limerick 0-16

So it will be extra-time. To be honest, neither side deserved to lose this on the basis of 60 minutes we’ve just seen. A cracking end-to-end game, full of chances, that certainly didn’t look out of place on the main stage. The seniors will have a lot to live up to now.

Two additional periods of 10 minutes each to start shortly.

Word filtering up to us in the Croke Park press box that Hawk Eye has been stood down for the rest of the afternoon — including the senior game between Limerick and Clare.

We’re back underway.

Limerick 0-17 Galway 0-16: 1 ET — David Dempsey strikes first for Limerick.

Galway 0-18 Limerick 0-17: ET 3 mins — Molloy sets up Conor Whelan for the score and then points a free himself. Galway back in front.

Galway 0-19 Limerick 0-17: ET 6 mins -- Scrappy around the Limerick 21-yard line and eventually Eamonn Brannigan frees himself to point.

Galway 0-19 Limerick 0-18: ET 8 mins – Ronan Lynch points a free from out near the sideline.

EXTRA TIME HALF TIME: Galway 0-19 Limerick 0-18

Still nothing to choose between the sides but it’s Galway who marginally shaded that first additional period. For Limerick, Ronan Lynch has been absolutely immense at centre-back.

We’re back. Ten minutes to decide who will play in the All-Ireland minor final on 8 September.

Galway 0-19 Limerick 0-19: ET 12 mins — LEVEL AGAIN! David Dempsey equalises

Limerick 0-20 Galway 0-19: ET 13 mins — And now it’s Limerick who lead, substitute Edward Doyle taking his score well.

Limerick 0-20 Galway 0-20: ET 14 mins – Galway come down the other end and equalise through Conor Whelan. The intensity hasn’t dropped for a second.

Galway 0-21 Limerick 0-20: ET 16 mins — Conor Whelan skips away from Barry Nash and scores. Galway back in front with four minutes to play. What have Limerick got left in the tank?

A chance for David Dempsey to tie things up again but his shot drops right and wide. Just over two minutes to play.

Galway 0-22 Limerick 0-20: ET 19 mins — Chaos in the Limerick defence as goalkeeper Colin Ryan comes for a low bobbling ball and misses it completely. There are enough defenders to stop Ronan O’Meara from scoring a goal but he scoops the ball over the bar for a point and that could be that.

Galway 0-23 Limerick 0-20: ET 20 mins — Limerick need a goal now as Eanna Burke points to stretch Galway’s lead to three.

FULL TIME: Galway 0-23 Limerick 0-20

It’s all over here at HQ and it’s Galway who book their place in the All-Ireland minor final on 8 September. Take nothing away from their victory, which they certainly worked for, but you imagine a lot of the post-match discussion will focus on Hawk Eye.

That’s it from us for now. Join us in a few minutes for live coverage of the senior semi between Limerick and Clare which now throws in at the slightly later time of 3.45pm.