Welcome to Semple Stadium for this afternoon’s eagerly-awaited meeting of Thurles Sarsfields and Sarsfields in the Munster Club SHC semi-final.

Here’s the Thurles Sarsfields team for today’s game.

Thurles Sarsfields: Patrick McCormack; Stephen Maher, Kevin O’Gorman, David Maher; David Kennedy, Padraic Maher, Michael Cahill; Michael Gleeson, Johnny Enright; Pa Bourke, Jim Corbett, Lar Corbett; Michael O’Brien, Denis Maher, Aidan McCormack.

And here’s the Sarsfields team for the game.

Sarsfields: Alan Kennedy; Darren Kenneally, Joe Barry, Conor O’Sullivan; Daniel Kearney, Ray Ryan, Craig Leahy; Tadhg Óg Murphy, Eoin Quigley; Gavin O’Loughlin, Ronan Murphy, Daniel Roche; Cian McCarthy, Michael Cussen, Robert O’Driscoll.

Some interesting changes on the Sarsfields team from that which defeated Bishopstown in the Cork county final. Tadhg Óg Murphy, Ronan Murphy and Craig Leahy come into the team instead of Eanna Martin (who is injured), Kieran Murphy and William Kearney.

The national anthem is being played and we’re moments away from throw-in.

Plenty inter-county talent on show here as the teams bid for a place in the 2012 Munster senior club hurling final on November 25th.

Sarsfields 0-1 Thurles Sarsfields 0-0: 2 mins – First blood to Sarsfields with Cian McCarthy slotting over a point a placed ball on the left wing.

Sarsfields 0-2 Thurles Sarsfields 0-0: 3 mins – And Sarsfields extend their lead with Daniel Roche, playing at wing-forward today having been at wing-back in the county championship, raising a white flag. Previously Michael O’Brien had missed a chance to point for Thurles Sarsfields.

Sarsfields 0-3 Thurles Sarsfields 0-1: 5 mins – The teams trade points with Pa Bourke tapping over a free for Thurles Sarsfields before Cian McCarthy quickly replies by converting a placed ball for Sarsfields.

Sarsfields 0-3 Thurles Sarsfields 0-2: 6 mins – Plenty scoring early on with Pa Bourke adding the latest point for Thurles Sarsfields, again from a placed ball.

Thurles Sarsfields 1-2 Sarsfields 0-3: 7 mins – What a goal by Lar Corbett! He caught the ball cleanly around the 65-yard line before galloping through the Sarsfields defence and finishing brilliantly to the net. Advantage Thurles Sarsfields as they hit the first goal of the game.

Thurles Sarsfields 1-3 Sarsfields 0-4: 10 mins – Vital response for Sarsfields to that goal by Corbett with Cian McCarthy slotting over a free after Michael Cussen was fouled. But then Thurles Sarsfields hit back with Michael Gleeson sweeping the ball between the posts.

Thurles Sarsfields 1-4 Sarsfields 0-4: 11 mins – Nearly a second goal for Thurles Sarsfields as Pa Bourke gathers a ball from Padraic Maher and fires in a shot that is brilliantly tipped over the bar by Alan Kennedy.

Thurles Sarsfields 1-4 Sarsfields 1-4: 13 mins – We’re level in Semple Stadium. Sarsfields grab a goal through midfielder Eoin Quigley who started the move and was on the end to finish it off by bundling the ball to the net. Excellent start to this game.

Sarsfields 1-5 Thurles Sarsfields 1-4: 14 mins – Now Sarsfields are ahead. Centre-forward Cian McCarthy notches a fine point, his fourth of the game and his first from play.

Sarsfields 1-6 Thurles Sarsfields 1-5: 17 mins – Gavin O’Loughlin gets in on the scoring act for the Cork champions as he grabs a point from play. But Pa Bourke breaks Sarsfields scoring spree at the other end by hitting a point for the Tipperary outfit.

Sarsfields 1-6 Thurles Sarsfields 1-6: 18 mins – Level again. Pa Bourke splits the post once more for Thurles Sarsfields with a point after good approach work by Johnny Enright.

Thurles Sarsfields 1-8 Sarsfields 1-6: 20 mins – Aidan McCormack nudges Thurles Sarsfields into the lead with a point from play and Lar Corbett adds to it soon after with a similar effort.

Thurles Sarsfields 1-9 Sarsfields 1-6: 22 mins – Thurles Sarsfields are starting to put daylight between the teams. Aidan McCormack with their latest score as he registers their fifth successive point

Brilliant save by Thurles Sarsfields goalkeeper Patrick McCormack as he reacted superbly to tip away a snapshot by Ronan Murphy.

HALF-TIME: Thurles Sarsfields 1-11 Sarsfields 1-8: And Sarsfields finish the half by raising another white flag with midfielder Eoin Quigley on the mark. They needed that score to help trim the deficit to three points after Thurles Sarsfields had gained control of the game. We’ll be back shortly with the second-half action.

Sarsfields substitution at the break sees Eoin O’Sullivan on for Daniel Kearney, who looked to have picked up an injury during the first-half.

Thurles Sarsfields 1-12 Sarsfields 1-8: 31 mins – Pa Bourke gets the Tipperary champions off to a bright start in the second-half by firing over a point after he did well to make space for himself.

2,934 is the official attendance here.

Thurles Sarsfields 1-13 Sarsfields 1-8: 35 mins – A pointed free by Johnny Enright extends Thurles Sarsfields lead but then Pa Bourke misses a chance to register another point from a placed ball.

Two Thurles Sarsfields substitutions with Richie Ruth in for Jim Corbett while John Maher replaces Michael Gleeson.

A couple of bad wides by Thurles Sarsfields who are bringing on Ger ‘Redser’ O’Grady for John Maher.

Sarsfields replace wing-back Craig Leahy with Garry O’Kelly-Lynch.

Thurles Sarsfields 1-17 Sarsfields 2-13: 53 mins – Now there’s just a point between them with Cian McCarthy splitting the posts with a long-range free for Sarsfields.

Thurles Sarsfields 1-18 Sarsfields 2-13: 55 mins – Big point for Thurles Sarsfields and it is Ger Redser O’Grady who supplies it with his first score since coming on.

Thurles Sarsfields 1-18 Sarsfields 2-14: 57 mins – Cian McCarthy fires over a free for Sarsfields. William Kearney is on for Ronan Murphy on their team.

Michael O’Brien hits a wide for Thurles Sarsfields from the right wing.

Thurles Sarsfields 1-18 Sarsfields 2-15: 60 mins – Level in injury-time after Cian McCarthy grabs another free for Sarsfields, this time after Michael Cussen was fouled.

Goal for Thurles Sarsfields!

Thurles Sarsfields 2-19 Sarsfields 2-15: 61 mins – Dramatic stuff as Richie Ruth hammers the ball to the net for Thurles Sarsfields are a great run by Michael Cahill created the opportunity. Aidan McCormack follows it up with a point for the Tipperary champions.

FULL-TIME: Thurles Sarsfields 2-20 Sarsfields 2-15: A five-point victory for Thurles Sarsfields with Johnny Enright applying the finishing touches by converting a long-range free.

Victory for Thurles Sarsfields in the end thanks to that late scoring blast of 1-2 in injury-time. They now go forward to meet Waterford’s De La Salle in the Munster final on November 25th. For Cork side Sarsfields, defeat means the end of their campaign.

Here are the scorers from today’s game, thanks for joining us this afternoon.

Thurles Sarsfields: Pa Bourke 0-7 (0-2f), Aidan McCormack 0-5, Johnny Enright 0-4 (0-3f), Lar Corbett 1-1, Richie Ruth 1-0, Michael Gleeson, Ger O’Grady, Michael O’Brien 0-1 each.
Sarsfields: Cian McCarthy 0-8 (0-6f, 0-1 ’65), Eoin Quigley 2-1, Gavin O’Loughlin, Ronan Murphy 0-2 each, Daniel Roche, Tadhg Óg Murphy 0-1 each.