Welcome to Croke Park for this afternoon’s All-Ireland senior hurling final replay. Kilkenny and Galway are both now out on the pitch, undergoing their warm-ups.

The big news on the Galway team is after much pre-match speculation, James Skehill looks set to start in goal despite suffering a knock to his shoulder on Friday night. He’s currently undergoing his warm-up by the Davin End.

Here’s the Galway team, unchanged from the drawn game.

GALWAY SH: 1. James Skehill (Cappataggle); 2. Johnny Coen (Loughrea), 3. Kevin Hynes (Sarsfields), 4. Fergal Moore (Turloughmore); 5. Niall Donoghue (Kilbeacanty), 6. Tony Og Regan (Rahoon-Newcastle), 7. David Collins (Liam Mellows); 8. Iarlaith Tannian (Ardrahan), 9. Andy Smith (Portumna); 10. David Burke (St. Thomas), 11. Niall Burke (Oranmore-Maree), 12. Cyril Donnellan (Padraig Pearses); 13. Damien Hayes (Portumna), 14. Joe Canning (Portumna), 15. James Regan (St. Thomas).

And here’s the Kilkenny team with two changes from the drawn match as Walter Walsh makes his senior debut at full-forward while Cillian Buckley is also drafted in. Colin Fennelly and Aidan Fogarty are the two players to make way.

KILKENNY SH: 1. David Herity (Dunamaggin); 2. Paul Murphy (Danesfort), 3. JJ Delaney (Fenians), 4. Jackie Tyrrell (James Stephens); 5. Tommy Walsh (Tullaroan), 6. Brian Hogan (O’Loughlin Gaels), 7. Kieran Joyce (Rower-Inistioge); 8. Michael Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks), 9. Richie Hogan (Danesfort); 10. Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro), 11. Richie Power (Carrickshock), 12. Eoin Larkin (James Stephens); 13. TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks), 14. Walter Walsh (Tullogher-Rosbercon), 15. Henry Shefflin (Ballyhale Shamrocks).

Some pre-match reading for you. A guide to today’s match here and the views of TheScore.ie’s hurling analyst Daithi Regan here.

The substitutes on the Galway team are as follows.

Subs: 16. Feargal Flanney (Padraig Pearses), 17. Joseph Cooney (Sarsfields), 18. Conor Cooney (St. Thomas), 19. Jonathon Glynn (Ardrahan), 20. Davy Glennon (Mullagh), 21. Tadhg Haran (Liam Mellows), 22. Aidan Harte (Gort), 23. Niall Healy (Craughwell), 24. Paul Gordon (Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry), 25. Ger O’Halloran (Craughwell), 26. Paul Hoban (Loughrea).

While the Kilkenny substitutes are below.

Subs: 16. Eoin Murphy (Glenmore), 17. Noel Hickey (Dunamaggin), 18. Richie Doyle (Barrow Rangers), 19. Conor Fogarty (Erins Own), 20. John Tennyson (Carrickshock), 21. Paddy Hogan (Danesfort), 22. Aidan Fogarty (Emeralds), 23. Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks), 24. Matthew Ruth (James Stephens), 25. Mark Kelly (O’Loughlin Gaels), 26. Joe Brennan (St Patrick’s Ballyragget).

What of the match officials for today’s game? Well the referee is Westmeath’s James McGrath while Cork’s John Sexton is the standby referee. The other linesman is Westmeath’s Barry Kelly who refereed the drawn match and James Owens from Wexford is the sideline official. The umpires are Tom McNicholas (Lough Lene Gaels), David Hennessy (Lough Lene Gaels), Johnny Fitzpatrick (Lough Lene Gaels) and David Clune (Delvin).

The teams are currently meeting the President Michael D Higgins. We’re going to be approaching a full house in Croke Park and excitement is building. The weather has improved as well as we close in on throw-in.

The pre-match parade has begun. Galway are managed by Anthony Cunningham with Tom Helebert and Mattie Kenny his selectors. While the Kilkenny boss is Brian Cody while Michael Dempsey and Martin Fogarty are his right-hand men.

So will it be Galway’s Fergal Moore or Kilkenny’s Eoin Larkin who lifts the Liam McCarthy Cup today? If the teams do end in a draw after 70 minutes, extra-time will be played to try to produce a winner.

The sun is out in Croke Park and the national anthem is about to be played. We’re nearly set for the 2012 All-Ireland senior hurling final replay between Galway and Kilkenny.

A nice touch there as a minute’s silence is held for former UCC Fitzgibbon Cup winning player and manager Paul O’Connor who sadly passed away last week. He would have trained members of the current Kilkenny and Galway squads in the third-level competition.

We’re underway in Croke Park.

Positional changes for Kilkenny see Cillian Buckley at midfield, Walter Walsh at corner-forward and Richie Hogan at full-forward.

First scoring chance for Kilkenny but Henry Shefflin drives a free across the goal and wide.

Galway 0-1 Kilkenny 0-0: 6 mins – We have our first score  of the game with Joe Canning smashing over a free from halfway for Galway.

Galway 0-1 Kilkenny 0-1: 7 mins – But now we are level as Shefflin converts a free for Galway after Eoin Larkin is fouled.

Cyril Donnellan has started brightly for Galway, claiming possession in his battle with Tommy Walsh but his point attempt has just tailed wide.

Kilkenny 0-2 Galway 0-1: 9 mins – Kilkenny hit the front as Shefflin drives a free between the posts.

Good play by Kilkenny creates a chance for Richie Hogan but he cannot round off the move with a point as his shot flies wide.

Kilkenny 0-3 Galway 0-1: 12 mins – The first point from play arrives and it is registered by Kilkenny’s debutant Walter Walsh. It’s a fine score as he got clear of his marker Johnny Coen and that should help settle the Tullogher-Rosbercon clubman.

Kilkenny 0-4 Galway 0-2: 13 mins – Galway cut the gap through a Joe Canning free but then Henry Shefflin seizes on a loose pass in the Galway defence and rifles over a point from play.

Niall Burke floats in a shot from the Hogan Stand side for Galway but the ball drifts wide.

Goal for Galway from David Burke!

And another goal for David Burke for Galway!

Kilkenny goal from Richie Power!

Galway 2-2 Kilkenny 1-5: 20 mins – What drama here in Croke Park! First David Burke finds the net after he diverts an Iarla Tannian delivery past David Herity. TJ Reid replies with a Kilkenny point before Burke hits home another Galway goal, this time a cool finish after a pass by Damien Hayes. But Kilkenny respond in dramatic fashion with Richie Power whipping to the net after Eoin Larkin’s shot was well blocked by James Skehill.

Kilkenny 1-6 Galway 2-2: 21 mins – Kilkenny edge ahead through a point from Eoin Larkin. Those three goals have ignited this game. The atmosphere is electric here and that was a quite incredible passage of play.

Kilkenny 1-8 Galway 2-2: 23 mins – The Cats move in front by three thanks to a Richie Power point from play and a Henry Shefflin point from a free, the latter after Eoin Larkin was hauled down.

Kilkenny 1-10 Galway 2-2: 24 mins – Newcomer Walter Walsh is making a big impression for Kilkenny and has just grabbed another point. That is soon followed up by a great score by Shefflin from play. That’s 1-5 without reply now for Kilkenny.

Kilkenny 1-11 Galway 2-2: 26 mins – Kilkenny are firmly in command here with Richie Hogan lobbing over another point from play.

Kilkenny 1-11 Galway 2-3: 28 mins – Joe Canning strikes over a point from a free that Galway badly needed. Joseph Cooney is on in their defence for Niall Donoghue in the first substitution of the game. That looks like an injury has forced his withdrawal.

Galway need to settle now in the period before half-time and try to stem the tide of Kilkenny dominance.

Kilkenny nearly find the net when Walter Walsh challenges James Skehill for possession but they are just able to clear their lines through Kevin Hynes.

Another Galway change with Jonathan Glynn into their attack for James Regan.

A glorious scoring chance goes a begging for Galway after the ball breaks to Cyril Donnellan near goal but he fails to control the ball and Kilkenny clear. We’re in injury time.

HALF-TIME: Kilkenny 1-11 Galway 2-4: A vital point for Galway from a ’65 by Joe Canning before the break ensures they are only four points down at the halfway mark.

That Canning score arrived after Cyril Donnellan’s shot from a tight angle for goal was parried out over the end line by Kilkenny goalkeeper David Herity. It’s the Cats who are in control at the break as they lead by four points. Their response to those two goals from David Burke was hugely impressive with Shefflin, Power, Larkin and Walsh all on fire in attack. We’ll be back shortly with the second-half action.

The teams are back out for the second-half action. The attendance has been confirmed as 82,274 here today in Croke Park.

Change on the Galway team at half-time sees Fergal Flannery come into goal for James Skehill, who was clearly suffering from the effects of that shoulder injury. Richie Hogan nearly gets in for an early Kilkenny goal but the ball rolls wide.

A wayward shot there by Cyril Donnellan sees the ball go well wide.

Kilkenny 1-12 Galway 2-5: 39 mins – Kilkenny get the first score of the second-half through Richie Hogan but Andy Smith replies with a tidy point for Galway.

Kilkenny 1-13 Galway 2-5: 40 mins – Shefflin fires over a ’65 to stretch Kilkenny’s lead to five points.

Bad miss from a free by Joe Canning for Galway.

A Shefflin point attempt hits the upright and goes wide.

Galway strike to the net through Cyril Donnellan but the referee calls the play back, saying he had awarded a free. The decision infuriates the Galway players and supporters.

Kilkenny 1-13 Galway 2-6: 45 mins – Canning points the close-range free but Galway will feel they should have been awarded a goal.

Kilkenny 1-13 Galway 2-7: 46 mins – The gap is down to three points after Canning arcs over a beautiful sideline cut.

Kilkenny 1-14 Galway 2-7: 48 mins – Cillian Buckley notches a point for Kilkenny but huge drama before that when Canning unleashed a bullet towards goal only for the ball to strike the post.

Massive blow for Galway as Cyril Donnellan is sent off for a striking offence.

Kilkenny 1-16 Galway 2-7: 51 mins – To compound matters for the Tribesmen, Richie Power and Michael Fennelly have struck over points to send Kilkenny into a six-point lead.

Kilkenny 1-17 Galway 2-7: 52 mins – It’s a tough task facing Galway to come back now with fourteen men and Walter Walsh has just slotted over a point to extend Kilkenny’s lead. Conor Cooney is onto the Galway team for Niall Burke.

Kilkenny 1-18 Galway 2-7: 54 mins – The advantage is firmly with Kilkenny now as Shefflin fires over the free that sends them eight points clear after TJ Reid is fouled.

Kilkenny 1-18 Galway 2-8: 56 mins – An inspirational point by Tony Óg Regan will try to give Galway some hope.

Kilkenny 2-19 Galway 2-8: 57 mins – That is surely that. Walter Walsh whips the ball to the net after TJ Reid’s initial effort was blocked by Fergal Flannery. Kilkenny’s personnel advantage is starting to tell with Richie Hogan grabbing another point before that.

Walsh is brought off to huge applause with Kilkenny sending on Colin Fennelly to replace him. What a substitute to be able to bring on and that reaffirms the strength of this Kilkenny squad.

Kilkenny 2-20 Galway 2-8: 61 mins – Kieran Joyce gets in on the scoring act for Kilkenny as he launches a huge free from distance over the bar.

Kilkenny 3-20 Galway 2-8: 62 mins – The Galway supporters are starting to stream out of Croke Park after Colin Fennelly bundles home Kilkenny’s third goal of the afternoon. No doubting who are going to be crowned champions now.

Kilkenny 3-20 Galway 2-9: 64 mins - Davy Glennon replaces Andy Smith on the Galway team as Canning fires over a free for the Tribesmen.

Kilkenny 3-20 Galway 3-9: 66 mins – That is a superb goal for Galway by Jonathan Glynn. It may not affect the end result but that was a terrific finish to the top corner of the net. Noel Hickey comes on for Kieran Joyce on the Kilkenny side with Aidan Fogarty also on for TJ Reid.

Kilkenny 3-22 Galway 3-9: 68 mins – Shefflin bangs over two more points from frees. Kilkenny are closing in on another Liam McCarthy Cup triumph after yet another outstanding display.

Similar to the minor curtain-raiser, this game has been one-way traffic with Kilkenny firmly in control. We’ll have just the one minute of injury-time.

Kilkenny 3-22 Galway 3-11: 71 mins – Two late consolation points for Galway from Joe Canning, both from play.

FULL-TIME: Kilkenny 3-22 Galway 3-11: And that’s how it finishes with Kilkenny crowned All-Ireland senior hurling champions once more. It was comfortable in the end in this replay clash as they have eleven points to spare at the final whistle. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and for all your comments.