SUNDAY 3 SEPTEMBER
TG4 All Ireland JFC semi-finals
1200 Fermanagh v London, Lannleire, Dunleer
1345 Carlow v Derry, Lannleire, Dunleer
All-Ireland SHC final
1530 Galway v Waterford, Croke Park
All-Ireland MHC final
1315 Galway v Cork, Croke Park
ONLINE
Live blog on RTÉ.ie and the RTÉ News Now App on the hurling finals from 1300.
TV
Live coverage - Galway v Cork in minor final on TG4 from 1245 - Galway v Waterford senior final on RTÉ2 from 1400 and on Sky Sports from 1500.
Irish language commentary also available on RTÉ live games. Click here for details.
All live games available on GAAGO.
Highlights of all the weekend's action on The Sunday Game on RTÉ2 from 2130
RADIO: Exclusive live commentary on the hurling finals on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 from 1400.
WEATHER
It will start off wet in most places but the rain will clear away eastwards in the morning and the winds will ease. Sunny spells and some scattered showers will follow. Highest temperatures of 17 to 20 degrees with mainly light southerly breezes, becoming westerly later. For more info go to met.ie.
A minor matter
The curtain-raiser on Sunday sees Cork and Galway do battle in the U18 final. It's a repeat of the showdown from 2001 which the Rebels won - their last All-Ireland success.
Galway have won five titles since - 2004-2005-2009-2011-2015.
After claiming success in the U17 grade, Cork will be looking to add another title and so build on the work they've been doing at underage level.
Their march to this stage saw them edge out Tipperary after a replay in the Munster semi-final, before Clare were swept aside in the provincial final.
A 'comfortable' four-point win over Dublin in the All-Ireland semi leaves them 60 minutes away from a 19th All-Ireland crown.
Galway held their nerve to pip Kilkenny in the last-four after easily defeating Clare at the quarter-final stage.
The westerners are aiming for an 11th title.
NOVEL PAIRING IN THE BATTLE FOR LIAM
And so two are left standing in the race for All-Ireland glory in 2017. For the first time Galway and Waterford will lock horns in September combat.
On the face of, it's a coming together that should not be a surprise. It's Galway's third final appearance this decade, while Waterford have made huge strides since Derek McGrath took over four years ago. Both counties lost narrowly in their respective semi-finals in 2016.
The westerners have certainly endured much pain since last winning Liam MacCarthy in 1988. Seven appearances in finals since, including a replay against Kilkenny in 2012 have seen them leave empty handed. There is a feeling out there that the time has come for them to finally claim the big prize.
Dealing with expectations
With a Division 1 league title and a second Leinster championship in the bag, the wind is certainly behind them as they strive to pick up that final piece of silverware. Yet, if you flip it there would seem to be greater pressure on them to deliver, with the added talk that Joe Canning should already have an All-Ireland medal in his back pocket.
On that notion of added pressure, former Galway centre-back Cathal Moore told RTÉ Sport: "I don't think any person would deny that the pressure is more on Galway. They have more experience and they have shown the better form coming into the match. They are League champions, they beat the All-Ireland champions so everything is pointing towards it.
"I think Galway people will realise, particularly those who were in Pearse Stadium for the League game earlier this year, when Waterford came with their second team and had Galway almost put away. Ten points ahead and it was a resurrection by Galway which was almost Lazarus-like."
It's finally here. All-Ireland final day is upon us and the countdown to glory awaits. #galvwat #allireland #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/eLGvUFLH87
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 3, 2017
Déise raise their game
After a somewhat flat performance in losing to Cork in the Munster semi-final, Waterford got the show back on the road with wins over Offaly, Kilkenny, Wexford, before gaining revenge on the Rebels three weeks' ago.
The victory over the Cats was their first over their neighbours in the championship since the 1959 All-Ireland final - the last year that the Déise landed Liam MacCarthy.
Much has been spoken about Waterford's defensive system and it won't be a surprise if Tadhg de Búrca is a again deployed as the sweeper. The Munster side will no doubt look to disrupt the Galway half-forward line of Mannion, Canning and J Cooney - a pivotal line in the Tribes' success this year.
Goals, as they say win matches, but Galway have been especially goal-shy after the two they bagged in the Leinster quarter-final win over Dublin. Since then they have amassed 0-84 in their three championship games, but crucially no green flags.
Waterford, on the other hand, have found the net on 11 occasions in their five games this summer.
The players' jury:
Brendan Bugler, Noel McGrath, Matthew O'Hanlon, Ryan O'Dwyer all have their say on today's final. Read their predictions here.
John Mullane famously told everyone how much he loves his county, but he's not the only Waterford person that does..... pic.twitter.com/phtkfphzUz
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 3, 2017
Richie Power view
"I got it wrong in the semi-final. I wasn't expecting Waterford to score 4-19 and they could have scored more because they had a lot of wides.
"If they stick to the gameplan and get the match-ups right, I think Waterford could sneak it.
"I've no doubt Galway will put themselves in to a position to win the game but if Waterford are still in it in the last 10 or 15 minutes they might just push on and end a 58-year wait for the title.
"They have a bit of experience with Brick Walsh and Kevin Moran and their fitness levels are phenomenal."
- Waterford have won all ten of their championships clashes with Galway. Three were in All-Ireland semi-finals, three quarter-finals, three Munster championship (Galway competed in Munster in 1959-69) and one All-Ireland qualifier.
- Galway’s only defeat in 12 Allianz League and championship games this year came in Round 2 of the Division 1B campaign when they were defeated by Wexford by 1-21 to 3-13 in Pearse Stadium last February.
- Waterford have won seven and lost four of their eleven Allianz League and championship games in 2017.
- Derek McGrath is in his fourth season as Waterford manager. Their championship record under him reads: Played 18, Won 9, Drew 2, Lost 7.
- Micheál Donoghue is in his second season as Galway boss, with his championship record reading: Played 9, Won 7, Lost 2.
- Waterford are bidding to become the sixth team to win the All-Ireland after losing in the provincial championships. The five who previously achieved it were: Clare 2013; Kilkenny 2012; Tipperary 2010; Cork 2004 and Offaly 1998.
- Referee, Fergal Horgan (Tipperary) will take charge of an All-Ireland senior final for the first time.
