Hello and welcome along to The42‘s coverage of this evening’s Leinster SHC action.

All eyes will be on Nowlan Park as Kilkenny and Wexford are effectively batting it out for a place in the Leinster final against reigning champions Galway.

Galway of course are also in action this evening against Dublin. The result of this game is won’t have much bearing on the competition however, as Galway are already through to the decider, while Dublin will finish fourth in the table after their win over Offaly.

We’ll have team news for you in the next few minutes but do get in touch by posting in the comment section below, send a tweet to @Shin_Farrell, who will be guiding you through the coverage.

Kilkenny XV versus Wexford:

1. Eoin Murphy (Glenmore)

2. Enda Morrissey (Bennettsbridge)
3. Padraig Walsh (Tullaroan)
4. Paddy Deegan (O’Loughlin Gaels)

5. Conor Delaney (Erin’s Own)
6. Cillian Buckley (captain) (Dicksboro)
7. Paul Murphy (Danesfort)

8. Conor Fogarty (Erin’s Own)
9. James Maher (St Lachtains)

10. Martin Keoghan (Tullaroan)
11. TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
12. Liam Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge)

13. John Donnelly (Thomastown)
14. Walter Walsh (Tullogher Rosbercon)
15. Luke Scanlon (James Stephens)

Substitutes: 16. Darren Brennan, 17. Joey Holden, 18. Conor O’Shea, 19. Jason Cleere, 20. Conor Browne, 21. Ger Aylward, 22. Colin Fennelly, 23. Pat Lyng, 24. Richie Leahy, 25. Richie Hogan, 26. Bill Sheehan

Wexford XV:

1. Mark Fanning (Glynn-Barntown)

2. Damien Reck (Oylegate-Glenbrien)
3. Liam Ryan (Rapparees)
4. Simon Donohue (Shelmaliers)

5. Paudie Foley (Crossabeg-Ballymurn)
6. Matthew O’Hanlon (St James)
7. Diarmuid O’Keefe (St Anne’s)

8. Kevin Foley (Rapparees)
9. Shaun Murphy (Oulart-The-Ballagh)

10. Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers)
11. Aidan Nolan (HWH Bunclody)
12. Jack O’Connor (St Martin’s)

13. Paul Morris (Ferns St Aidan’s)
14. Rory O’Connor (St Martin’s)
15. Conor McDonald (Naomh Éanna)

Subs:

16. Conor O’Leary
17. Conor Firman
18. Willie Devereux
19. Aaron Maddock
20. Eoin Moore
21. Éanna Martin
22. Cathal Dunbar
23. Harry Kehoe
24. David Dunne
25. Liam Óg McGovern
26. Shane Tompkins

Dublin Starting Team:

See below the full teamsheet for today's SHC match in Pearse Stadium, we will have full score updates here! 📲#COYBIB pic.twitter.com/cFJRNeSZpS

— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) June 9, 2018

Galway Starting Team:

@Galway_GAA senior hurling team named for @gaaleinster championship match with @DubGAAOfficial in Pearse Stadium tomorrow. #gaillimhabú pic.twitter.com/54evJFk8Rc

— Tribesmen GAA (@TribesmenGAA) June 8, 2018

4 mins: Wexford 0-1 Kilkenny 0-1

We’re underway in Nowlan Park with both sides trading scores. Rory O’Connor gets Wexford off the mark first followed by a TJ Reid free for Kilkenny.

4 mins: Galway 0-5 Dublin 0-2

 Galway head into an early lead at home against Dublin with Conor Whelan and Seán Loftus both getting on the scoreboard. Rian McBride and Paul Ryan have both been on target for Dublin.

11 mins: Kilkenny 0-5 Wexford 0-4

Both sides evenly matched in the opening stages. TJ Reid the latest to get on the scoreboard.

Meanwhile, both sides named a few changes before throw-in. Conor Firman and David Dunne in for Simon Donohoe and Jack O’Connor on the Wexford team.

Meanwhile, Kilkenny bring in Conor O’Shea, Bill Sheehan, Colin Fennelly and Richie Hogan to their starting team. It’s Richie Hogan’s first game since playing against Waterford in the qualifiers last year.

The ACTUAL teams .... pic.twitter.com/wkx6yMWnk7

— Wexford GAA (@OfficialWexGAA) June 9, 2018

11 mins: Kilkenny 0-5 Wexford 0-4

Conor McDonald and Paul Morris have both been on target for Wexford, while Walter Walsh, James Maher and goalkeeper Eoin Murphy have all scored for Kilkenny.

17 mins: Kilkenny 0-5 Wexford 0-5

Conor McDonald levels proceedings in Nowlan Park with a free following a foul on Damien Reck.

18 mins: Kilkenny 0-5 Wexford 0-7

Diarmuid O’Keefe and Lee Chin pop over scores to push Wexford into a two-point lead.

The O’Keefe score was a long-range effort while Chin hit a point after an interception to win back possession.

18 mins: Galway 0-9 Dublin 0-5

Meanwhile in Pearse Stadium, Galway open up a four-point lead. Jason Flynn is fouled and pops over the resultant free for the latest score.

21 mins: Kilkenny 0-5 Wexford 0-8

Rory O’Connor extends Wexford’s advantage again.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

25 mins: Kilkenny 0-5 Wexford 0-10

Wexford starting to dominate now. Lee Chin points from midfield as Kilkenny followed by a Rory O’Connor score.

Kilkenny haven’t scored since the 11th minute and they need to get on the scoreboard to settle themselves.

28 mins: Kilkenny 0-5 Wexford 1-10

GOAL!!!

What a score from Paul Morris. He smashed the ball on the volley to put it into the net following a pass from David Dunne and they are now eight points in front of the home side.

Wexford have hit 1-6 without reply.

30 mins: Kilkenny 0-6 Wexford 1-10

Kilkenny needed that as TJ Reid slots over a free. The pace of the game has been frantic since throw-in.

31 mins: Galway 0-14 Dublin 0-7

Galway are well in command of proceedings against Dublin.

Captain Burke to C Cooney for a cracker...0-14 0-7 #galvdub #LSHC2018

— Tribesmen GAA (@TribesmenGAA) June 9, 2018

32 mins: Kilkenny 0-6 Wexford 1-10

Diarmuid O’Keefe rattles off a long-range effort but it tails wide. Regardless of that however, Davy Fitzgerald will be delighted with how his side have applied themselves in the first half.

36 mins: Kilkenny 0-7 Wexford 1-12

Reid and Kevin Foley exchange points before Paul Morris splits the posts once more for Wexford.

The referee is going into consult with the umpires for what appears to be something that happened off the ball.

36 mins: Kilkenny 0-7 Wexford 1-11

Score disallowed and Kilkenny get a free out. The ball makes its way up to Walter Walsh who hits a seventh wide for Kilkenny.

36 mins: Kilkenny 0-7 Wexford 1-11

Very uncharacteristic miss from Reid. He was in a very scoreable position almost straight in front of goals and he blasts the effort wide.

Kilkenny look to be in serious trouble.

HT: Wexford hurlers lead Kilkenny by seven points at the break.

HT: Galway 0-16 Dublin 0-9

Galway lead Dublin by seven points at half-time and look to be on course for a clean sweep in this new round-robin format of the Leinster SHC.

35 mins: Galway 0-16 Dublin 0-9

The second half is underway in Pearse Stadium.

People are not happy with the delay to get to the hurling coverage this evening due to the extra-time needed to settle the game between Meath and Tyrone.

What do you think? Let us know in the comment section.

Half-Time Changes:

Colin Fennelly and Richie Hogan taken off at half-time by Kilkenny. Richie Leahy and Martin Keoghan brought in.

35 mins: Kilkenny 0-7 Wexford 1-12

Paudie Foley nails a long-range effort to get Wexford off to a great start.

37 mins: Kilkenny 0-7 Wexford 1-13

And Lee Chin follows up with a quick score straight after. They now lead by nine points.

Can Kilkenny come back from this? It’s a big ask.

38 mins: Galway 0-18 Dublin 1-11

GOAL!!!

Dublin are right back in this game. Paul Winters finds the back of the net and they now trail the champions by just four points.

Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

40 mins: Kilkenn 0-9 Wexford 1-13

TJ Reid hits two scores on the bounce to reduce the deficit. Brian Cody is trying to rouse the troops from the sideline. They still have a bit to go in Nowlan Park.

42 mins: Kilkenny 0-10 Wexford 1-13

Aidan Nolan joins Lee Chin in the book for Wexford.

Meanwhile, TJ Reid hits his seventh point of the evening to bring the gap back to six points.

They look to have found their rhythm again.

43 mins: Kilkenny 0-11 Wexford 1-13

Padraig Walsh unleashes a monstrous effort and lands it over the bar. That’s four points without reply for the Cats.

Now it’s Wexford’s turn to muster up a response.

44 mins: Galway 0-18 Dublin 2-11

GOAL!!

We have a game on our hands in Galway. Paul Winters strikes again to leave just one between the sides.

Leinster SHC Round 5: GOAL!! Paul Winters hammers it home!

09mins 2nd half
Dublin: 2-11(17)
Galway: 0-18(18)#UpTheDubs

— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) June 9, 2018

47 mins: Kilkenny 0-12 Wexford 1-13

That’s eight points now for TJ Reid as Liam Blanchfield comes on for Bill Sheehan.

48 mins: Kilkenny 0-12 Wexford 1-13

Brian Cody’s side have responded well in the second half. Brian Cody has been motivating his players from the sideline all evening.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

49 mins: Kilkenny 0-13 Wexford 1-13

There’s just one score between the teams. Reid taps over a free following a challenge on Blanchfield.

50 mins: Kilkenny 0-14 Wexford 1-13

Reid posts his 10th point of the night to put just two between the teams. All of the momentum is with Kilkenny.

Wexford now look to be rattled and have been outscored 0-7 0-2 in the second half.

Tide turning for Kilkenny, all the momentum now. Padraig Walsh having a massive second-half.

— Fintan O'Toole (@fotoole13) June 9, 2018

54 mins: Galway 0-20 Dublin 2-15

Dublin have taken the lead and have shown great character in the second half. Galway could be about to lose their first Leinster championship game of the campaign.

54 mins: Kilkenny 0-14 Wexford 1-14

A badly needed score for Wexford as Paudie Foley cracks over a score from their own 65.

Sardonic cheers as the man in the middle gives a free to us for a chop. Paudie takes it from our own 65 and it's straight and true, 1-14 to 0-14.

— Wexford GAA (@OfficialWexGAA) June 9, 2018

54 mins: Kilkenny 0-14 Wexford 1-14

Harry Kehoe comes in for Kevin Foley, while Jack O’Connor replaces David Dunne.

55 mins: Kilkenny 0-15 Wexford 1-14

Joey Holden keeps Kilkenny’s scoreboard ticking over. We are in for a nail-biting finish as Wexford hold a slender two-point lead.

Some celebrity visitors to Nowlan Park. A League of Their Own stars Jamie Redknapp and Freddie Flintoff compete in a half-time hurling challenge.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

58 mins: Kilkenny 0-17 Wexford 1-14

Reid brings Kilkenny to within one of Wexford and Richie Leahy gathers possession moments later to level the game.

60 mins: Kilkenny 0-19 Wexford 1-14

Kilkenny go two points in front. Richie Leahy and Enda Morrissey get the vital scores.

62 mins: Kilkenny 0-19 Wexford 1-15

Rory O’Connor responds for Wexford and reduce the gap to one.

63 mins: Kilkenny 0-20 Wexford 1-15

Diarmuid O’Keefe makes way for Wexford, while Conor Fogarty hits one back for Kilkenny to restore the two-point advantage.

You feel as though Wexford need a goal.

65 mins: Kilkenny 0-20 Wexford 1-16

Foley hits a third point for Wexford and they’re staying in touch with Kilkenny. Five minutes of normal time to be played.

65 mins: Galway 0-24 Dublin 2-18

We’re all square in Pearse Stadium.

Leinster SHC Round 5: Dub sub - James Madden on for Fiontán McGibb

30mins 2nd half
Dublin: 2-18(24)
Galway: 0-24(24)#UpTheDubs

— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) June 9, 2018

68 mins: Kilkenny 0-21 Wexford 1-16

Rory O’Connor misses a crucial free. It was well wide and that could have been a huge chance to break Kilkenny’s momentum.

John Donnelly punishes them in the next phase of play to put Kilkenny two in front again.

70 mins: Kilkenny 0-22 Wexford 1-17

Paudie Foley puts over a long-range free and Donnelly finds the target directly after. It’s a real shootout in Nowlan Park but Kilkenny are in control.

72 mins: Kilkenny 0-21 Wexford 1-16

There’s three minutes of added time to be played as Paudie Foley prepares to take a free.

72 mins: Kilkenny 0-21 Wexford 1-17

Credit to Foley. He has nailed those last two frees and Wexford are just one adrift again. A draw would be enough for them to book a place in the Leinster final.

FT: Kilkenny are through to the Leinster final after defeating Wexford.

Kilkenny 0-22 Wexford 1-18

What a comeback from Kilkenny. They looked to be out of the game and were seven points down at half-time. But TJ Reid masterminded a comeback with his accuracy from frees.

Padraig Walsh and Paul Murphy were instrumental as well.

Cody’s men now go back to Croke Park where they will meet old rivals Galway in the Leinster final.

FT: Galway 0-26 Dublin 2-19

It’s a one-point win for Galway in the end, but Dublin deserve huge credit for how they rallied back from seven points down at the break.

Two Paul Winters goals were crucial in their comeback, but Galway’s experience and skill for winning games with points was enough to bring them over the line.

They’ve won all their round-robin games so far as they gear up for a date with Kilkenny in the final.

Well that’s all this evening folks. We hope you enjoyed the coverage.

Until next time, it’s goodbye from us (and Freddie and Jamie)

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO