Awkward angle for James Smith but no problem for him, the roar from the Cavan bench tells the story.

Aside from the 10 minutes spell where they had a one-man advantage, Donegal have looked a far cry from their free-flowing best today.

Let's be clear though, that's as much a result of Cavan making life difficult as it is of Donegal misfiring.

Anyone expecting Cavan to wilt at some stage in this second half allowing Donegal to run away with it, at the risk of jinxing it, it really doesn't look like that's going to happen today.

They have a glorious goal opportunity as Ciaran Brady's sumptuous pass is collected by James Smith whose low effort fizzes past the post.

An all-knowing smile from Thomas Galligan after a wonderful, improbable score from the Cavan man who lost the ball on the ground, was surrounded by three defenders but manages to regather and swing an effort over the bar.

Back underway and Donegal have a free within 15 seconds.

Paddy McBrearty duly obliges, Donegal's first free of the day.

BBC Championship pundit Oisin McConville has his say on the first half action at the Armagh Athletic Grounds.

Brendan Devenney
Former Donegal forward on Radio Ulster

Enda McGinley
Antrim senior football manager on Radio Ulster

A lull in the scoring after the frenetic opening 25 minutes.

Conor Smith is off for Cavan again temporarily while the medical team have a look at a persistent cut on his face. Conor Madden again comes on.

Donegal looking for one more score before the interval but the high ball into the square takes a bounce and goes wide.

Raymond Galligan has an opportunity to kick a long, late free but he slips in perhaps the first indication of the difficult underfoot conditions.

That's all from a very interesting opening half.

Still a game very much in the balance.

Conor Madden's outside of the boot effort is charged down and Donegal start a blistering counter attack which is illegally broken up.

That allows Michael Murphy to attempt to score Donegal's first free of the day, but it comes off the post.

Good news for Cavan, Thomas Galligan has changed his shirt and is back on the pitch.

Thomas Galligan is down getting some treatment after taking a big accidental hit from Caolan McGonigle.

He is helped from the pitch and a real problem for Cavan if that's the last they see of him, he has been a titan of their run to the final.

Gearoid McKiernan pops over the free.

Enda McGinley
Antrim senior football manager on Radio Ulster

Michael Murphy dispossess Thomas Gallian on the Cavan 45 and that is a killer for the underdogs.

Donegal make them pay through Niall O'Donnell.

Michael Langan has been quiet so far but he cleans up a high ball and spins to put his first score over.

Cavan are back up to their full compliment of 15, a really costly black card. They were three up when Brady was forced off.

They needed that. Cavan move the ball beautifully, three fists passes move the play from right to left for Jason McLoughlin to put his side back on the board after Donegal reeled off five consecutive points.

First big goal chance follows shortly as Eoghan Ban Gallagher straps on his jet boots and surges forward, but his low drive is brilliantly blocked.

Michael Murphy is in among it in the middle and draws a few defenders before the ball makes its way to Ryan McHugh who strokes over.

Caolan McGonigle follows suit with a lovely strike from the right wing a minute later and Donegal lead by two.

Frantic stuff, and great to watch as the referee signal the first half water break.

Donegal stayed calm after a brilliant frantic Cavan start. We are in for some game if this keeps up.

It's that type of blitz that make Donegal such a force in Ulster.

Cavan have applied the early pressure and pushed themselves ahead but in the space of two minutes, they knock off three points.

Niall O'Donnell is the man to level.

Enda McGinley
Antrim senior football manager on Radio Ulster

Kilcar duo Ryan McHugh and Patrick McBrearty decided to step it up a notch and combine for the latter to drop over an easy point.

McBrearty is feeling it now and plays a quick one-two with Peadar Mogan before another left-footed point.

Well for the neutral, this is the start they'd have wanted to see.

But, there's a big blow for Cavan, Killian Brady is in the bin for deliberately pulling down Ryan McHugh.

Cavan down to 14 men for the next 10 minutes.