Hello and welcome to this evening’s hurling liveblog. Alan Waldron here taking you through your minute-by-minute action at Semple Stadium. We’ve got Fintan O’Toole on the ground for what we hope will be another belter.

Last week’s clash in Croke Park delivered in spades, anything like that again today and we’re in for a treat.

Here’s a reminder of today’s teams, both sides are unchanged from last week. We’ll keep you up to date with any late changes if and when they are confirmed.

Waterford

1. Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner)
2. Shane Fives (Tourin)
3. Barry Coughlan (Ballygunner)
4. Noel Connors (Passage)
5. Tadgh de Burca (Clashmore Kinsalebeg)
7. Philip Mahony (Ballygunner)
6. Conor Gleeson (Fourmilewater)
8. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater)
10. Kevin Moran (De La Salle)
12. Michael Walsh (Stradbally)
6. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion)
20. Pauric Mahony (Ballygunner)
15. Colin Dunford (Colligan)
11. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart)
14. Jake Dillon (De La Salle)

Kilkenny

1. Eoin Murphy (Glenmore)
2. Paul Murphy (Danesfort)
3. Joey Holden (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
4. Shane Prendergast (Clara)
5. Padraig Walsh (Tullaroan)
6. Kieran Joyce (Rower Inistioge)
7. Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro)
8. Conor Fogarty (Erins Own)
9. Michael Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
10. Walter Walsh (Tullogher Rosbercon)
11. TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
12. John Power (Carrickshock)
13. Jonjo Farrell (Thomastown)
14. Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
15. Richie Hogan (Danesfort)

So many questions, such little time.

Will Derek McGrath alter the tactical approach that worked so well against Kilkenny last weekend?

What Waterford and, more to the point, what Austin Gleeson will turn up today?

The Déise have hit a lot of wides in their last two outings at Semple Stadium but were excellent in front of goal for 65-odd minutes at GAA HQ last time out.

What way will Brian Cody approach this edition, what did he learn last weekend?

Have Waterford missed their chance or has Derek McGrath located the Kryptonite of this Kilkenny outfit that so many others have been looking for.

As usual, get your predictions in early. Feel free to contact us on Twitter, Facebook or in the comments section below.

“This is my Olympics,” Anthony Daly claimed last week. Too right.

All the talk this week has been about Brian Cody’s replay record — played five, won four. Only the Dubs got the better of them second time around, in a Leinster semi-final replay in 2013.

Everyone was also saying last week that Waterford wouldn’t beat Kilkenny unless they scored a goal and they were very close to doing just that.

Kilkenny have also been a bit goal-shy this year, hopefully we’ll get a few at both ends today.

Today’s game is live on RTÉ One from 18.30.

In case you missed it, Cork won the first camogie semi-final in Thurles this afternoon, beating Wexford 0-19 to 0-15 after extra time.

Kilkenny came out on top in the second semi against Galway, in a match that also went to extra-time.

Can the hurlers make it three out of three??

Galway's Ailish O'Reilly is tackled by Kilkenny’s Davina Tobin. Ken Sutton / INPHO Ken Sutton / INPHO / INPHO

Just 10 minutes until throw-in, here’s a bit of pre-match reading to whet the appetite for today and tomorrow.

5 big questions ahead of the All-Ireland hurling semi-finals this weekend

Right, let’s do this. Just over five minutes to go.

THREE changes for Kilkenny.

Liam Blanchfield, Mark Bergin and Eoin Larkin in for Kieran Joyce, John Power and Jonjo Farrell

ONE change for Waterford — Stephen Bennett in for Dunford.

Ger Loughnane reckons Cody is playing the most physical line-up he has available after being out-muscled the last day. It’ll be interesting to see what way the sides line out.

And now for Amhrán na bhFiann

And they’re off…

Kilkenny 0-1 Waterford 0-0

Kilkenny start this game at full throttle. The intensity is might and Blanchfield is the first name on the scoreboard.

Gleeson makes a huge catch soon afterwards but sends his shot to the left and wide. Great start to this.

Waterford 1-0 Kilkenny 0-1 (Gleeson goal ’5)

Waterford 1-1 Kilkenny 0-1 

Gleeson adds a point to his stunning goal which came from a powerful run and excellent finish past Murphy from a narrow angle.

Kilkenny 1-1 Waterford 1-1 (C Fennelly ’8)

This has been a mile a minute.  Plenty of aggression and a nice bit of bite. Goals for both sides and early yellow cards for Shane Bennett and Michael Fennelly. It has the makings of a classic.

Kilkenny 2-1 Waterford 1-1 (C Fennelly ’10)

Kilkenny 2-1 Waterford 1-2

Great score from Pauric Mahony, the Déise needed that. Some excellent work from ‘Brick’ to create it

Kilkenny 2-2 Waterford 1-2

TJ Reid from play, an excellent score from the centre of the field, where he seems to be based alongside Richie Hogan.

Barry Coughlan is getting an absolute roasting from Colin Fennelly. Austin Gleeson is showing off his incredible array of skills…serious game of hurling.

Mahony with what looked like a routine free, but he’s pushed it to the right and we’re going to Hawk-Eye

Kilkenny 2-2 Waterford 1-3

It’s given anyway, that’s Mahony’s second.

Kilkenny 2-2 Waterford 1-3

Great defending from Paul Murphy as he snuffs out a promising Waterford attack. He has been something else this year, even by his high standards.

Jamie Barron put a marvellous effort over the bar from distance, or from DOWNTOWNNNN as one Timmy McCarthy would say.

Kilkenny 2-2 Waterford 2-4 (Dillon ’20)

Oh my days, this is incredible stuff. What a finish from Dillon, off the left side and he fires it across Murphy and into the top corner from 20 metres out.

Kilkenny 2-2 Waterford 2-5

Can they do it again? You bet your bottom dollar they can. Shane Bennett adds an excellent score from play.

Kilkenny 2-3 Waterford 2-5

Blanchfield backs himself from the right-hand touchline and he delivers in style. That’s his second of the day.

Austin Gleeson is giving a masterclass in fielding today. The lad has a paw the rest of the country could only dream of.

Kilkenny 2-4 Waterford 2-5 (’27)

Richie Hogan with a sublime score from distance. One-point game.

Kilkenny 2-5 Waterford 2-5 (’28)

TJ ties it up from a free which was given for a late Austin Gleeson hit on the marauding Cillian Buckley.

Kilkenny 2-6 Waterford 2-5 (’30)

Blanchfield puts the Cats back ahead from play.

Kilkenny 2-6 Waterford 2-6 (’32)

Mahony ties it up again from a free.

Kilkenny 2-7 Waterford 2-6 (’33)

Eoin Larkin gets his first score from play after some excellent work from Colin Fennelly.

Kilkenny 2-7 Waterford 2-7 (’34)

Mahony ties it up again with another free.

Kilkenny 2-8 Waterford 2-7 (’35)

Reid responds in kind from a placed ball. The game has finally settled a bit with all these breaks in play after a frantic first 30 minutes.

Kilkenny 2-9 Waterford 2-7 (’36)

Fennelly eile Michael gets his name on the scoresheet with a tidy score from play.

Kilkenny 2-10 Waterford 2-7 

Walter Walsh adds another for the Cats as they build a lead just before half-time.

HT: Kilkenny 2-10 Waterford 2-7

Wow, what a half of hurling. That’s why we love the game.

Fast, ebbing and flowing, great goals, a bit of fiery stuff and some exquisite skills on show.

Waterford dominated for large spells but Kilkenny did what Kilkenny do in getting their noses in front. The Cats have been clinical when they’ve needed to be.

Richie Hogan gets a shot away despite the best efforts of Kevin Moran and Noel Connors. Ken Sutton / INPHO Ken Sutton / INPHO / INPHO

We’re back under way in Thurles. Strap yourselves in folks, this is gonna be special.

Will Kilkenny turn the screw in the third quarter? The next 10 minutes are going to be huge.

Kilkenny 2-11 Waterford 2-7

Ideal start for Kilkenny, Reid nails a long-range free.

And Gleeson sends one wide at the other end.

Kilkenny 2-11 Waterford 2-8 (’39)

Mahony brings the Déise back within three from a free.

GOAL CHANCE for Blanchfield but O’Keefee reacts well after an overhit handpass from Richie Hogan put it just outside of his reach. Should have been a goal. Very uncharacteristic from Hogan.

Kilkenny 2-11 Waterford 2-9 (’40)

Mahony rubs salt in the wound with a free at the other end which was won by the industrious Waterford captain Kevin Moran.

Kilkenny 2-13 Waterford 2-9 (’43)

A great score from distance from Padraig Walsh. And only seconds later Hogan adds another.

Give them an inch and ….

Kilkenny 2-14 Waterford 2-9 (’45)

Kilkenny are turning the screw and Waterford are panicking a bit, particularly in the full-back line. De Búrca gives away a clear yellow and a very easy free for Reid to put five points between the sides.

Déise gone a bit flat and are losing the puckouts that they had been cleaning up previously. Time for a couple of changes? Maurice Shanahan perhaps?

Kilkenny 2-14 Waterford 2-10

Shane Bennett from distance, and boy did they need that.

Stephen Bennett is penalised for catching the sliotar three times, and that’s the last bit of action for him. Shanahan is introduced in his place. (’48)

Kilkenny 2-14 Waterford 2-11 (’49)

Great catch from Shanahan straight off the bat earns his side a free. Mahony does the rest. Joey Holden picked up a booking for his part in that.

He’ll have a few more high balls to challenge for pretty soon you’d imagine.

Kilkenny 2-14 Waterford 2-12 (’50)

Great link play from Brick again, he gives a handpass to Maurice and Shanahan fires it over off his right-hand side.

This is ebbing and flowing, unreal stuff in Semple Stadium.

Kilkenny 2-15 Waterford 2-12 (’52)

Padraig Walsh gets his second score in 10 minutes after a beautiful no-look handpass from Reid.

Kilkenny 2-16 Waterford 2-13 (’55)

Colin Fennelly is roasting Coughlan like a cheap coffee bean. He’s still winning everything in there. His latest ball win results in an over-the-shoulder score from Hogan.

But Aussie Gleeson does what Aussie Gleeson does best in reply — the sublime. A superb solo run ends with a lovely flick off the hurl over the bar. Still a three-point game.

Another fine catch from Gleeson but Curran, who came on for Shane Bennett, sends it wide

We’ve had two games at Semple Stadium already today and they both went to extra time, surely it won’t be three in a row….

Michael Fennelly has pulled up and it looks pretty serious. Lester Ryan is coming on in his place. The stretcher is out and we’re facing a lengthy delay. Fennelly looks devastated, he knows a serious injury when he sees one at this stage.

Hopefully it’s not as bad as it looks.

10 minutes to go…

Ken Sutton / INPHO Ken Sutton / INPHO / INPHO

Jonjo Farrell on for Mark Bergin and John Power is on as a blood sub for Walter Walsh.

Kilkenny 2-16 Waterford 2-14

Mahony brings it back to two with a free which was given for a Walsh foul on Moran, a foul that saw him sustain a cut over the eye.

This is getting a little bit scrappier and that will suit the Cats down to the ground. Still anyone’s game. Shanahan looking dangerous.

Big Dan not happy with James McGrath’s call. It’s all getting very emotional. Five minutes to go.

Walsh returns bloodied, patched up and in the number 30 shirt.

Kilkenny 2-16 Waterford 2-15

Brick wins a free. Mahony does the rest. Here we go.

Silly free allows Kilkenny a shot at goal. Reid misses a free you’d back him to score all day.

Kilkenny 2-16 Waterford 2-16 (’69)

Jamie Barron levels it!

Kilkenny 2-17 Waterford 2-16 (’71)

Jesus me nerves. Blanchfield wins a great ball in the air and is pulled down as he is bearing down on goal. A Reid free from straight in front edges the Cats ahead.

Two minutes to go, Waterford need the ball.

Kilkenny 2-18 Waterford 2-17 (’72)

Reid adds a more difficult free. Waterford respond straight away through Shanahan. 30 seconds to play.

Free for Waterford…..jesus

Mahony from inside his own half…..

FT: Kilkenny 2-19 Waterford 2-17 

Richie Hogan seals it with a great score from play. You’ve got to feel for Waterford, they’ve treated us to a serious bit of hurling.

Eoin Murphy caught that Mahony free by the way as it dropped just short…..

Got lost in all the drama.

Thanks for joining us for tonight’s liveblog…what a great game of hurling.

Match report, reaction and analysis to follow.

Galway and Tipp will be playing tomorrow for a shot at the reigning champs on All-Ireland final day.

Ready for game number two of the day? It promises to be a cracker. Team news coming up!