Summary

  • Res: Donegal 2-22 Down 1-12

  • Goals by Leo McCloone and Jamie Brennan

  • Niall Donnelly nets Down's goal

  • Early red card for Donegal defender Neil McGee

  • Donegal face Fermanagh on 24 June

  1. Ulster recordspublished at 15:56 British Summer Time 10 June 2018

    Donegal v Down

    Donegal have been crowned Ulster champions on eight occasions, most recently in 2014.

    Down have lifted the Anglo-Celt Cup 12 times, but their last provincial success was back in 1994 when they also won the All-Ireland.

    Donegal captain Michael Murphy lifts the Anglo-Celt cup in 2014Image source, Inpho
    Image caption,

    Donegal captain Michael Murphy lifts the Anglo-Celt Cup in 2014

  2. Donegal make late changepublished at 15:56 British Summer Time 10 June 2018

    Donegal v Down

    We had thought Donegal would play as selected but the men from Tír Chonaill have made a late change as Ciaran Thompson replaces Odhran Mac Niallais, who has picked up an injury in the warm-up, in the starting side.

  3. Championship fervour threatens to break outpublished at 15:49 British Summer Time 10 June 2018

    Donegal v Down (16:00 BST)

    John Haughey
    BBC Sport NI at Clones

    Just bumped into my colleague and BBC Championship presenter Mark Sidebottom on the way to St Tiernach's Park and he correctly remarked that a "bit of championship fervour finally appears in the air today".

    Certainly fans from both counties arrived early to beat the dreaded Clones traffic and many were sampling the local refreshments al fresco in Fermanagh Street as we took a pre-match stroll in the town.

    After the low supporter turnouts to date in the Ulster series, hopefully we'll get a healthy five-figure attendance today and an atmosphere to match.

    Members of the Down team enter the Clones changing roomsImage source, Inpho
    Image caption,

    Members of the Down team enter the Clones changing rooms

  4. Team newspublished at 15:48 British Summer Time 10 June 2018

    Donegal v Down

    Donegal will field as selected but there's one change for Down as Ronan Millar replaces Kilcoo's Ryan Johnston in the full forward line.

  5. In the curtain-raiserpublished at 15:32 British Summer Time 10 June 2018

    Ulster Under-20 semi-final

    Not a good start to the day for Down as Conor Deegan's boys lose 2-17 to 2-15 in the Ulster Under-20 semi-final against Derry.

    The Oak Leaf lads trailed by seven at the break - so quite a comeback.

    Derry will play Armagh in the final.

    Derry fight back to beat Down in Under-20 semi-finalImage source, Inpho
    Image caption,

    Derry fight back to beat Down in Under-20 semi-final

  6. Final factspublished at 15:24 British Summer Time 10 June 2018

    Donegal v Down

    Donegal appeared in six successive finals between 2011 and 2016, winning three and losing three. Today's match is a repeat of the decider in 2012 when Donegal romped to a 2-18 to 0-13 victory.

    Donegal's Christy Toye in action against Down's Conor Laverty and Liam Doyle in the 2012 Ulster finalImage source, inpho
    Image caption,

    Donegal's Christy Toye in action against Down's Conor Laverty and Liam Doyle in the 2012 Ulster final

  7. Our love hate affair with Clonespublished at 15:18 British Summer Time 10 June 2018

    Donegal v Down (16:00 BST)

    John Haughey
    BBC Sport NI at Clones

    And so as this Ulster Championship sprint nears the finish line, the roadshow arrives at Clones.

    We've all moaned about Clones down through the years.

    The out-of-the-way location; traffic access in and out; the boggy pitch (remember the '93 final) have been among the notable complaints. For goodness sake, the Clones burgers have even got several touches.

    But you know what? I think we all secretly and grudgingly love this venue. There is a sense of occasion in this otherwise sleepy provincial town which is not replicated at any other GAA venue in Ulster. And when you twist your way through the tight roads of county Monaghan and arrive here on a balmy day such as this afternoon, all seems well with your world.

    St Tiernach's Park, ClonesImage source, Inpho
    Image caption,

    St Tiernach's Park, Clones

  8. It's show timepublished at 15:17 British Summer Time 10 June 2018

    Donegal v Down

    Hello, welcome to our coverage of the second semi-final in the Ulster Senior Football Championship as Donegal and Down lock horns at Clones.

    With Fermanagh having surprised everyone by reaching the decider with victory over Monaghan last week, today's combatants will feel a provincial title is almost within their grasp.

    Donegal, having beaten Cavan and Derry to reach the last four, go in as favourites.

    But Down, comfortable victors over Antrim last time out, will fancy their chances of a second successive appearance in the showpiece decider.