We’re expecting a much closer affair in this evening’s second semi-final after Clare’s 27-point victory over Antrim earlier on.

As usual, this is Galway’s first foray into championship at this grade in 2014 so we know very little about the form the Tribesmen carry into the game. However, we do know they’ve lost at this stage two years running.

Wexford come into the game as two-time Leinster champions and will hope to put last year’s shock defeat to Antrim in the semi-finals behind them.

Here are the teams as named earlier in the week:

GALWAY
1. Shane Mannion (Clarinbridge)

2. Dara Donohue (Kilnadeema Leitrim)
3. John Hanbury (Rahoon/Newcastle)
4. Paul Killeen (Tynagh Abbey-Duniry)

5. Barry Keane (Clarinbridge)
6. Dean Higgins (Castlegar)
7. Adrian Tuohy (Beagh)

8. Cormac Diviney (Ardrahan)
9. Eanna Burke (St. Thomas)

10. Padraic Brehony (Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry)
11. Shane Moloney (Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry)
12. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh/Fohenagh)

13. Darragh Dolan (Cappataggle)
14. Jonathan Glynn (Ardrahan)
15. Jason Flynn (Tommie Larkins)

WEXFORD
1. Oliver O’Leary (Buffers Alley)

2. Garret Foley (Fethard)
3. Liam Ryan (Rapparees)
4. Eoin Conroy (Naomh Eanna)

5. Andrew Kenny (Buffers Alley)
6. Shane O’Gorman (c) (Adamstown)
7. Jack O’Connor (St. Martins)

8. Aidan Nolan (HWH Bunclody)
9. Conor Devitt (Ballyfad)

10. Jack Guiney (Rathnure)
11. Garry Moore Glynn (Barntown)
12. Padraig Foley (Crossabeg)

13. Rhys Clarke Fay (The Harriers)
14. Conor McDonald (Naomh Eanna)
15. Kevin Foley (Rapparees)

Galway come into the game as slight favourites (4/6) with Wexford available at 6/4. The handicap is just two points in Galway’s favour though which should go some way to telling you how close this one could be.

Predictions?

We’re just five minutes from throw-in here and there doesn’t look to be any changes to the starting XV.

And the game is under way.

Wexford 0-1 Galway 0-0:

1min – It didn’t take for Wexford to get on the board as Conor Devitt raced down the right wing before striking the sliotar off the left-hand upright and over.

Galway 0-2 Wexford 0-2:

5mins - Padraic Brehony and Shane Maloney put Galway into the lead briefly before Gary Moore levels things up for the Leinster champions. End to end stuff so far.

Wexford 0-4 Galway 0-3 :

8mins - Jonathan Glynn and Padraig Flynn exchange scores and the sides are level briefly yet again before Kevin Foley barges through the Galway defence to put Wexford ahead once more.

Wexford 0-5 Galway 0-3 :

9mins – GOAL CHANCE!

A brilliant stop by Shane Mannion in the Galway goal denies Conor McDonald the game’s first major, Wexford miss the resulting 65.

However, from the puck out, Aidan Nolan scores from distance.

Wexford 0-7 Galway 0-4 :

11mins - A nice score from Brehony out on the right is almost immediately cancelled out by Foley and McDonald for Wexford and their lead is now three.

Wexford 0-7 Galway 0-5:

13mins – Conor McDonald looked to have his second point of the game but the umpires ruled it wide. Interesting call. Down the other end, Padraic Brehony has his third point of the game.

Wexford 0-7 Galway 0-6:

15mins – Actually make that four scores. The Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry single-handedly keeping Galway in this one.

Wexford 0-7 Galway 0-7:

16mins - Cathal Mannion’s first score of the game has Galway level again. They’ve score three without reply now.

Wexford 0-9 Galway 0-8:

18mins - A Jack Guiney free briefly restores Wexford’s lead but Brehony again levels things up before Kevin Foley nabs his second point of the game.

Some start here in Thurles.

Wexford 0-9 Galway 0-9:

19mins - We’re level again, this time Shane Moloney with the Galway’s first free.

Galway 1-9 Wexford 0-10:

20mins – GOAL!

Galway have the game’s first goal and, guess who, Padraic Brehony is the man who has found the net.

Jack Guiney points his second free to move Wexford back within two.

Galway 1-9 Wexford 0-11:

22mins - Galway have started winning the 50/50 battles in their half-back line and launching their attacks from there. They’ve also been lethal in front of the posts.

Jack Guiney’s third free closes the gap to one point though.

Sub: 18. Brian Molly is on for 13. Darragh Dolan for Galway.

Galway 1-10 Wexford 0-12:

25mins - Shane Maloney points his second free of the day after some brilliant work in the inside forwards. Conor McDonald reduces the deficit to one point again though.

Wexford 1-13 Galway 1-10 :

26mins - GOAL!

Anything Galway’s number 10 can do, Wexford’s can equal. Jack Guiney puts the Slaneysiders into a two point lead with a bullet of a shot from the edge of the arean.

McDonald increases that lead to three with a well-taken point moments later.

Wexford 1-13 Galway 1-12 :

28mins –  The Galway sub has his first score with a nice turn and strike to close the gap to two. Cathal Mannion makes it one with a lovely run and score.

Wexford 1-13 Galway 1-13:

30+1mins –  Despite making a mess of the sideline cut, Galway are level again through Eanna Burke.

HALF-TIME -

Galway 1-14 Wexford 1-13

What a game we have here in Thurles this evening. Shane Maloney’s point gives the Tribesmen the narrowest of half-time advantages but it’s been breathless stuff from both sides in the opening period.

Scorers for Galway: Padraic Brehony 1-5, Shane Maloney 0-4 (0-21f), Cathal Mannion 0-2, Brian Molloy, Jonathan Glynn and Eanna Burke 0-1 each.

Scorers for Wexford: Jack Guiney 1-3 (0-3f), Conor McDonald 0-3, Padraig Foley and Kevin Foley 0-2 each, Aidan Nolan, Conor Devitt and Gary Moore 0-1 each.

Counting back, there have been just four wides in the first half, three from Wexford and just the one from Galway.

Indeed, such is Galway’s accuracy they are a very impressive 15/16 shots to Wexford’s 14/18.

And the second half is under way.

Galway 1-15 Wexford 1-13:

33mins - Andrew Kenny gives away a soft free and Shane Moloney taps over the easiest of frees to open the second half scoring.

Galway 1-16 Wexford 1-13:

35mins - Padraic Brehony brings his total to 1-6 for the evening and Wexford have yet to get started in this second half. Plenty of time left but they need a score soon.

Galway 1-17 Wexford 1-13:

35mins – Shane Maloney with the score of the game there, surrounded by three Wexford defenders and falling backwards he still puts it over the bar to put four between the teams for the first time.

Sub: 17. James White has come on for Wexford in place of 2. Garret Foley

Galway 1-17  Wexford 1-14:

38mins – It’s taken Wexford eight minutes but they’re finally on the scoreboard in the second half through Garry Moore.

Galway 1-17  Wexford 1-15:

40mins – There are just two between the sides now as Jack Guiney has his first point of the second half.

Galway 1-17  Wexford 1-16:

42mins – Guiney adds another free and now there are just one between the sides. Great fightback from Wexford here as Galway looked very much on top.

Galway 1-17  Wexford 1-17:

42mins – And we’re level yet again, Kevin Foley with his third point. So difficult to call this one.

Sub: 23. Peter Sutton replaces 13. Rhys Clarke for Wexford.

Wexford 1-18 Galway 1-17:

47mins – Jack Guiney points yet another free and Wexford have scored five without reply. Indeed, Galway haven’t troubled the umpires in more than 13 minutes. Worrying times for the Tribesmen.

Sub: 22. Eamonn Brannigan is on for 8. Cormc Diviney for Galway.

Wexford 1-18 Galway 1-18:

50mins – Galway finally score again – through Mannion – after 15 minutes without success. They’ve allowed Wexford back into this game but can they kick on from here?

Galway 1-19 Wexford 1-18 :

51mins – Adrian Tuohy has just scored a monster point for Galway as they retake the lead with nine minutes to play.

Sub: 19. Seamus Cash has replaced 9. Conor Devitt for Wexford.

Wexford 1-20 Galway 1-19 :

56mins – Jack Guiney keeps his nerves and scores a long range free to level things up again with four minutes to play before Garry Moore gives Wexford the lead.

Subs: 20. Conor O’Leary is on for 12. Padraig Foley for Wexford and 19. Jack Carr is on for 15. Jason Flynn for Galway.

Wexford 1-20 Galway 1-19 :

58mins – After being so accurate in the first half, wides are beginning to haunt Galway now and they trail by one entering the final minute.

Wexford 1-21 Galway 1-19:

60mins – WHAT A SAVE! Shane Mannion denies Wexford a certain goal but can do nothing about the rebound as Guiney points again.

Galway need goals now.

FULL-TIME -

Wexford 1-21 Galway 1-19

It’s all over. Galway can’t find the late goal and so it’s Wexford that will play Clare in the Bord Gais All-Ireland U21 Hurling Championship final after a two point win.

That’s it from us. What a game of hurling we had here. Galway will be really disappointed they couldn’t hold on but a 15 minute period without scoring as well as seven second half wides – compared to none from Wexford – was their undoing.

Thanks as always for joining us.