It’s AIB All-Ireland senior hurling club semi-final day with Mount Leinster Rangers and Loughgiel Shamrocks going toe to toe in Newry.

Páirc Esler is the venue as Mount Leinster Rangers aim to become the first Carlow team to reach the All-Ireland senior hurling final on St Patrick’s Day.

Loughgiel Shamrocks have the greater history at this level. The club won the All-Ireland title back in 1983 and many of the current players were involved when they defeated Coolderry at the final stage two years ago.

They contested last year’s semi-final as well but were defeated by Galway’s St Thomas after a replay.

Cork’s Cathal McAllister is the referee for this encounter.

Mount Leinster Rangers are managed by Tom Mullally while PJ O’Mullan is in charge of Loughgiel Shamrocks.

Time for team news.

Here’s how Loughgiel Shamrocks will start:

LOUGHGIEL SHAMROCKS: DD Quinn; Paddy Gillan, Neil McGarry, Ruairi McCloskey; Martin Scullion, Barney McAuley, Odhran McFadden; Mark McFadden, Tony McCloskey; Johnny Scullion, Declan Laverty, Eddie McCloskey; Benny McCarry, Shay Casey, Liam Watson.

And here’s Mount Leinster Rangers will start:

MOUNT LEINSTER RANGERS: Frank Foley; Michael Doyle, Garry Doyle, Gary Kelly; Diarmuid Byrne, Richard Coady, Edward Coady; Derek Byrne, Padraig Nolan; Paul Coady, Edward Byrne, David Phelan; Denis Murphy, John Coady, Eoin Doyle.

Loughgiel Shamrocks 0-1 Mount Leinster Rangers 0-1: Early scores on both sides with Eddie McCloskey pointing for the Antrim champions before Denis Murphy replies for the Carlow outfit as he converts a free.

Loughgiel Shamrocks 0-2 Mount Leinster Rangers 0-2: First time that Liam Watson has popped up in the game today and he gets off the mark from play for Loughgiel Shamrocks. But Padraig Nolan replies quickly to tie the game.

Six minutes gone so far in this match.

Yellow card for Mount Leinster Rangers player Edward Coady.

Liam Watson
Pic: INPHO/Presseye/John McIlwaine

Loughgiel Shamrocks 0-3 Mount Leinster Rangers 0-3: 9 mins – Little to choose between the teams so far. Denis Murphy bangs over a long-range free before Shay Casey registers at the other end.

Yellow card for Mount Leinster Rangers Michael Doyle.

Loughgiel Shamrocks 0-4 Mount Leinster Rangers 0-3: 11 mins – Watson finds his range from a free and edges them ahead.

Mount Leinster Rangers 0-5 Loughgiel Shamrocks 0-4: 15 mins – Midway through the opening period and Mount Leinster Rangers nudge themselves in front. Denis Murphy maintains his typical accuracy from frees before Eoin Doyle intervenes with a point from play.

Mount Leinster Rangers 0-6 Loughgiel Shamrocks 0-4: 18 mins – Difficult weather conditions for free taking but Denis Murphy is coping excellently so far. He grabs another point, this time from the right wing.

Mount Leinster Rangers 0-7 Loughgiel Shamrocks 0-5: 20 mins – Eddie McCloskey pulls a point back for Loughgiel Shamrocks but then Murphy’s fifth point of the day restores Mount Leinster Rangers lead.

Mount Leinster Rangers 0-8 Loughgiel Shamrocks 0-6: 27 mins – Points swapped by Eoin Doyle from play for Mount Leinster Rangers and Liam Watson from a free for Loughiel Shamrocks.

Mount Leinster Rangers 0-9 Loughgiel Shamrocks 0-6: 29 mins – Another cracking point by Denis Murphy sees Mount Leinster Rangers extend their lead.

HALF-TIME: Mount Leinster Rangers 0-10 Loughgiel Shamrocks 0-6: Denis Murphy brings the curtain down on a fine first-half display by him and his teammates to edge them four points in front.

We’ll be back shortly with the second-half action.

Mount Leinster Rangers 0-12 Loughgiel Shamrocks 0-7: 32 mins – We’re back for the second-half and Mount Leinster Rangers have gone five points clear. Denis Murphy and John Coady both point with those scores sandwiched by a Liam Watson score.

Goal for Loughgiel Shamrocks by Benny McCarry!

Mount Leinster Rangers 0-13 Loughgiel Shamrocks 1-7: 35 mins – Huge boost for Loughgiel Shamrocks as McCarry billows the net against the run of play. Mount Leinster reply with Denis Murphy pointing and there’s three between the teams again.

Substitute: James Campbell on for Martin Scullion in the Loughgiel Shamrocks team.

Mount Leinster Rangers 0-13 Loughgiel Shamrocks 1-8: 41 mins – Liam Watson strikes a beautiful point for Loughgiel Shamrocks to cut the gap to two points.

Mount Leinster Rangers 0-14 Loughgiel Shamrocks 1-8: 42 mins – Vital point for the Carlow side with David Phelan supplying it.

Mount Leinster Rangers 0-14 Loughgiel Shamrocks 1-9: 43 mins – And Loughgiel Shamrocks fight back through a point from Martin McFadden.

Mount Leinster Rangers 0-14 Loughgiel Shamrocks 1-10: 47 mins – Now it’s just a one-point game as Joey Scullion is on the mark for the Antrim outfit.

Substitute: Jack Murphy in for Padraig Nolan on the Mount Leinster Rangers team.

Mount Leinster Rangers 0-15 Loughgiel Shamrocks 1-10: 48 mins – Denis Murphy points again for Mount Leinster. He’s been superb today. Tense stuff now entering the finale.

Mount Leinster Rangers Denis Murphy.

Mount Leinster Rangers 0-16 Loughgiel Shamrocks 1-10: 52 mins – That’s a simply inspirational point by Diarmuid Byrne for Mount Leinster. He charged through from his half-back berth and showed the composure to nail a point after a great run. Are the Carlow club on the brink of history?

Goal for Loughgiel Shamrocks from Liam Watson!

Mount Leinster Rangers 0-16 Loughgiel Shamrocks 2-10: 53 minutes – Hold on, Loughgiel are not finished yet. Liam Watson takes the ball down one-handed and fires to the net.

Mount Leinster Rangers 0-17 Loughgiel Shamrocks 2-10: 54 mins – But Mount Leinster are not rattled by the concession of that goal and they go back in front with a sublime point from midfielder Derek Byrne.

Mount Leinster Rangers 0-17 Loughgiel Shamrocks 2-11: 54 mins – Level again as Liam Watson points a free.

Substitutes:

Mount Leinster Rangers – Hugh Paddy O’Byrne for John Coady.

Loughgiel Shamrocks – Daniel McCloskey for Joey Scullion.

Mount Leinster Rangers 0-18 Loughgiel Shamrocks 2-11: 56 mins – Denis Murphy pops up with yet another vital point. Extra-time will be played if the teams finish level.

Substitute

Mount Leinster Rangers – Willie Murphy is in for Eoin Doyle.

Watson spurns a chance from a free for Loughgiel. One minute left.

Free in for Loughgiel Shamrocks and we’re in injury time!

But the decision has been overturned and Loughgiel are down to 14 men.

But they’ve been awarded another free and Watson will hit it from distance.

But it drops shot and Mount Leinster Rangers win!

FULL-TIME: Mount Leinster Rangers 0-18 Loughgiel Shamrocks 2-11

What a conclusion to that game. Mount Leinster Rangers survived a late barrage of pressure to prevail by a point. They’re heading to Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day and will become the first Carlow club to feature at this stage.

Mark McFadden was sent-off late on for Loughgiel Shamrocks as they lose out for the second successive year at this stage.

The man-of-the-match award goes to Mount Leinster Rangers player Denis Murphy.

Thanks for joining us this afternoon, we’ll be back shortly with the second semi-final tie between Portumna and Na Piarsaigh.