Summary

  • Listen to live commentary of Down v Donegal with icon at top of page

  • Down 1-12 Donegal 2-25 (Res)

Live Reporting

  1. Donegal in total control but Murphy injury a huge blow for Bonner

    Down 0-08 Donegal 1-15

    John Haughey
    BBC Sport NI

    We're feared there was a danger this game could be done and dusted by half-time and that looks to be the case at Pairc Esler. But it's not been without attrition for Donegal with Michael Murphy appearing to have tweaked his hamstring again which could be a huge blow for their championship prospects beyond today.

    Michael Murphy (second from the left) in action at Pairc Esler before being forced off by a recurrence of his hamstring injuryInpho

    Michael Murphy (second from the left) in action at Pairc Esler before being forced off by a recurrence of his hamstring injury

  2. HALF-TIME

    Down 0-08 Donegal 1-15

    No doubting that was Donegal's half after Down looked like they were going to make it difficult early on.

    Michael Murphy going off injured was a big blow, of course, but it will take a big swing for Donegal not to see this match off comfortably in the second half.

    Ulster Senior Football Championship HT ScoreBBC Sport

    Ulster Senior Football Championship HT Score

  3. Were there too many steps for the Donegal goal?

    Down 0-8 Donegal 1-14

    Marty Clarke seems to think Jamie Brennan may have taken too many steps for his goal.

    One to be looked at at half-time, no doubt.

  4. GOAL FOR DONEGAL

    Down 0-7 Donegal 1-13

    Jamie Brennan finishes superbly for the first goal of the day.

    He had come on for the injured Michael Murphy and wasted no time in making an impact on the game.

    He capitalised on a slip in the Down defence to hold his man off and bury his shot past Rory Burns.

  5. Murphy forced off - then sent off

    Down 0-7 Donegal 0-12

    That's a massive moment.

    Donegal's main man Michael Murphy - who was an injury doubt before the game - is forced off with what looks like a hamstring injury.

    He wasn't happy at not being able to come off earlier and said something to the linesman as he left the pitch - leading to him being ordered from the dugout as he attempted to take his seat on the bench.

    Big, big blow for Declan Bonner and Donegal although they remain with 15 players on the field.

  6. Nice from McHugh

    Down 0-6 Donegal 0-8

    Ryan McHugh has three points to his name now as well.

    His third was a beautiful strike of the ball with his trusty right foot,.

    Down strike back straight away though - they are making it difficult for Donegal.

  7. Another one for O'Hagan

    Down 0-4 Donegal 0-6

    Down's Barry O'Hagan has been the star of the show in the opening 20 minutes.

    Four points for him so far - and that fourth one was another classy finish.

  8. Make that three

    Down 0-3 Donegal 0-5

    Barry O'Hagan's enjoying himself out there.

    He jinks one way and then the other before firing over his third point of the day.

    Quality point.

  9. Donegal's accuracy proving the difference

    Down 0-2 Donegal 0-5

    Donegal's finishing has made the difference so far. They've had six scoring chances and taken five of them with Down missing five of their seven opportunities. However, there was encouragement from Colm McCrickard's early run straight through the heart of the Donegal defence before he was off target with his shot.

  10. Goal in it

    Down 0-2 Donegal 0-5

    Barry O'Hagan doubles up for Down.

    Three points in it.

  11. Too easy for McHugh

    Down 0-1 Donegal 0-5

    Ryan McHugh has the freedom of the park as he strolls through and strokes over an easy point.

    Down need to get tighter to him as that was food and drink.

  12. Here come Down

    Down 0-1 Donegal 0-4

    Barry O'Hagan gets Down up and running with a free.

    No less than they have deserved.

  13. Murphy at the double

    Down 0-0 Donegal 0-4

    Michael Murphy follows up an easy free with another point.

    Ryan McHugh adds a fourth in a great start for Donegal who have slipped into gear well from the off.

  14. Down 0-0 Donegal 0-1

    And we're off.

    The visitors register first through Patrick McBrearty.

    A couple of misses from the hosts too in a busy first few minutes.

  15. Ulster SFC incoming

    Down 0-0 Donegal 0-0

    We are underway.

    Let's do this.

  16. Fun in the sun

    Down v Donegal (13:00 BST)

    There are 500 fans in for this one.

    It's great to see - have a good one, guys!

    Supporters ready for the action in Newry

    Supporters ready for the action in Newry

  17. A little archive to whet the appetite

    Down v Donegal (13:00 BST)

    As Down prepare to host Donegal in the preliminary round of the 2021 Ulster Championship, we look back to the final played out by the counties 30 years ago. Watch it here.

    Down captain Paddy O'Rourke lifts the Anglo Celt in 1991BBC Sport

    Down captain Paddy O'Rourke lifts the Anglo Celt in 1991

  18. Murphy fit for Donegal

    Down v Donegal (13:00 BST)

    There is always a health warning with GAA team selections right up until the throw-in but it's been confirmed that the teams are as selected. That means, of course that Michael Murphy - the main man for Donegal - is fit to take his place in a full-forward line that also includes Patrick McBrearty. With Peadar Mogan and Niall O'Donnell also named in the attack, Jamie Brennan has to be content with a place on a bench which includes Paul Brennan and Caolan Ward.

    With midfielder Johnny Flynn ruled out by injury, the Down team is along expected lines with exciting youngster Ryan McEvoy partnering Caolan Mooney at midfield and Barry O'Hagan named in attack after hitting 1-9 in the relegation play-off win over Laois.

    Kevin McKernan is named on a bench which also includes other experienced men Brendan McArdle and Paul Devlin.

    Down: Rory Burns; Peter Fegan, Gerard McGovern, Gerard Collins; Pierce Laverty, Darren O'Hagan (capt) Daniel Guinness; Caolan Mooney; Ryan McEvoy; Liam Kerr, Ceilum Doherty, Barry O'Hagan; Conor McCrickard, Liam Middleton, Corey Quinn.

    Substitutes: Marc Reid, Patrick Murdock, Brendan McArdle, Kevin McKernan, Patrick Branagan, Cormac McCartan, Stephen McConville, Paul Devlin, Danny Savage, Conor Gough, James Guinness.

    Donegal: Shaun Patton; Brendan McCole, Neil McGee, Stephen McMenamin; Ryan McHugh, Odhran McFadden Ferry, Eoghan Ban Gallagher; Hugh McFadden, Caolan McGonigle; Ciaran Thompson, Niall O'Donnell, Michael Langan; Patrick McBrearty, Michael Murphy (capt), Peader Mogan.

    Substitutes:Michael Lynch, Jason McGee, Eoin McHugh, Ethan O'Donnell, Paul Brennan, Jamie Brennan, Conor O'Donnell, Caolan Ward, Paddy McGrath, Eoin McGettigan, Eunan Doherty.

    Michael Murphy in action against Down in the 2018 Ulster Football semi-finalInpho

    Michael Murphy battles with Down's Brendan McArdle in the 2018 Ulster Football semi-final

  19. Tally dismisses relevance of 'underdogs tag'

    Down v Donegal (13:00 BST)

    Speaking to BBC Sport Northern Ireland's Thomas Kane earlier this week, Down boss Paddy Tally wasn't accepting any suggestion that his team's underdogs status would have a bearing on today's game.

    "On the day, you have to perform. I don't buy into the underdogs tag," insisted the Mourne County manager.

    Maybe Tally fears the underdogs label could give his team the opt out of throwing in the towel early on if things are going against them because nobody expects them to beat Donegal anyway?

    Or is there that chance that Tally feels his team really have a chance of upsetting a Donegal team still with the events of last November in their heads?

    Time will tell.

    Down manager Paddy TallyInpho

    Paddy Tally says the issue of his team being underdogs going into today's game is irrelevant

  20. The big picture

    Down v Donegal (13:00 BST)

    All eyes are on Down v Donegal this afternoon, of course, but how are we looking generally coming into the 2021 Ulster Championship?

    How will Tyrone get on in the post-Mickey Harte era? What will Cavan's defence of the title be like?

    Have a read here for an in-depth preview of what is an eagerly-awaited competition.

    Louth manager Mickey HarteBBC Sport

    Louth manager Mickey Harte