Pat Havern fires a wide for Down, their second of the contest so far

Miceal Rooney doesn't agree with call but he's adjudged to have deflected the ball over his own line and it'll be a Sligo 45.

Aidan Devaney's effort comes up short, the rebound breaks to Carrabine, but his shot drops under the bar too.

Down go long with the kick-out and Brian Cox goes through the back of Ceilum Doherty to earn himself a yellow card.

Pat Havern doubles the punishment as he makes no mistake with the free.

Paddy O'Connor is fouled by Miceal Rooney and that's a very makeable free for Sligo.

Sean Carrabine knocks it over with his left foot and we're level again.

There's Pat Havern's first point of the afternoon and Down have their first lead.

An excellent response from Down with Danny Magill coming off the right and swinging it over the bar on his left foot.

Sligo have the ball in the net but it's a hand pass and won't stand.

Niall Murphy knocks over a straightforward free and Sligo are on the board

John McGovern tries to work the opening for the game's first point but he's called for over-carrying.

Here we go...who will meet Laois back here in three weeks' time?

Four changes from the named Down team with Liam Kerr the big omission.

In come Finn McElroy, Paddy McCarthy, Ceilum Doherty and John McGovern with Jonny Flynn, James Guinness, Conor McCrickard out.

One change for Sligo as Lee Deighan replaces Mikey Gordon.

Down selector Mickey Donnelly speaking to RTE 2: "The last day we were here in the league final we didn't do ourselves justice so there's a real sense of trying to put our best foot forward today.

"[Sligo] have exceptional forwards, all the media coverage this week has emphasised that. They've six top-end forwards, scores from all areas of the field.

"Listen, we know this is going to be a massive challenge and we need to be at our best to shut them down because this team that we're playing have a record of scoring over 20 scores in a game. That's a massive challenge."

Image source, Getty Images

Two goals from Brian Byrne and another from Kevin Swayne earned Laois a place in the Tailteann Cup final after a 3-12 to 1-13 win over Antrim.

The Saffrons led by 1-10 to 1-7 after 45 minutes after a strong start to the second half and a goal from Paddy McAleer.

Read the report here

Image source, Inpho

Daniel O'Mahony's goal separates the sides at the break in Inniskeen.

Many believe the winner of the Tailteann Cup this summer will come from this pairing of Down and Sligo.

The Mourne men are back in last four for a second consecutive year and hoping to make it back to the decider after falling at the final hurdle against Meath last year.

Conor Laverty's sides are favourites to climb the steps of the Hogan Stand in a fortnight's time but face stiff opposition in the form of Sligo, a county they beat well in the league which matters little today.

The wide open spaces of Croke Park should suit players such as Odhran Murdock, Ryan Johnston and Liam Kerr as the Ulster county look for a better performance than their last visit to Croker, losing the division three league final to Westmeath.

Down were comfortable in their last four win over Wicklow and Sligo were equally comfortable in their win big win over Limerick.

Tony McEntee's side back at this level after competing well in the All-Ireland series last summer.

This one could go right to the wire between two top counties and if there are any changes closer to throw in we'll bring them to you.

Down: John O'Hare; Peter Fegan, Ryan McEvoy, Pierce Laverty; Miceal Rooney, Daniel Guinness, Shealan Johnston; Jonny Flynn, Odhran Murdock; Danny Magill, James Guinness, Ryan Johnston; Liam Kerr, Pat Havern, Conor McCrickard.

Subs: Kevin Anderson, Finn McElroy, Paddy McCarthy, Ryan Magill, Ceilum Doherty, Caolan Mooney, Oisin Savage, Shane Annett, John McGovern, Gareth McKibben, Eamonn Brown.

Sligo: Aidan Devaney; Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness, Paul McNamara; Brian Cox, Darragh Cummins, Nathan Mullen; Paul Kilcoyne, Canice Mulligan; Cian Lally, Alan McLoughlin, Seán Carrabine; Mikey Gordon, Patrick O'Connor, Niall Murphy.

Subs: Daniel Lyons, David Quinn, Donal Conlon, Eoghan Smith, Jack Lavin, Keelan Cawley, Lee Deignan, Luke Casserly, Mark Walsh, Pat Spillane, Peter Laffey.

Image source, BBC Sport

Laois' Mark Barry speaking to RTE 2: "It means everything, really.

"We knew coming up here that we'd a score to settle from last year and we're delighted to get over the line. It was a very tough battle out there, and we'd a bit of luck at times, but we're delighted.

"We said at half time we knew Antrim would start the second half well, so fair play to them for that, but we were able to weather the storm and then kick on and we're delighted to do so."

Image source, Inpho

Ruairi McCann (Creggan) adds a point for his side as James Kelly gets a second for Laois after Shaun Fitzpatrick passed up a huge goal chance.

Conor Hand lands a late consolation score on the whistle.

It's semi-final heartache for the second time in 12 months for Antrim in the Tailteann Cup as they failed to build on their strong start.

Two goals form Brian Byrne and another from Kevin Swayne were enough to see Laois home.

In truth, Antrim's inability to take a lead at the break after playing with the elements probably hampered their cause.

Justin McNulty's side advance to the Tailteann Cup final where they will meet the winners of the second part of this double header in either Down or Sligo.

Image source, Inpho

Four added minutes at the end of this game.

Rioghan Murphy lands a much needed score for Laois and it puts three between them once more.

Ruairi McCann (Creggan) drops one short for Antrim at the other end.

Patrick McBride gets his fifth of the day for Antrim, all from play.

Antrim's first score in twenty minutes and first since their goal.

Laois' Evan O'Carroll is black-carded and, with the time left, his side should play the remainder of this contest with fourteen men.