Michael Murphy
Former Donegal captain and All-Ireland winner on BBC Two NI

I think it will be a narrow victory for Donegal, but any victory is a good one.

There's a slight delay to throw-in as the fans continue to filter in at Pairc Esler.

It shouldn't be too long before we are under way in the Down sunshine.

Philly McMahon has picked Down forward Pat Havern and Donegal's Brendan McCole as his key match up.

That's a tasty one to keep an eye on!

Philly McMahon
Eight-time All-Ireland winner with Dublin on BBC Two NI

It looks like Division One team against Division Three, but in reality it's Division Two against a team who were nearly promoted from Division Three. It's a lot closer than a lot of people give credit. I do think they have a good chance here today.

These counties met in the Ulster Championship preliminary round as recently as 2021 as there is quite a turnover of players from that contest when Donegal romped to a 2-25 to 1-12 win at Pairc Esler.

Down retain only five starters - captain Pierce Laverty, midfielders Ryan McEvoy and Daniel Guinness plus half-forwards Ceilum Doherty and Liam Kerr.

Guinness' inclusion is among two late changes with Daniel Guinness drafted in at midfield and Shane Annett called into the defence as Conor Poland and Conor Fitzpatrick drop out.

Conor McCrickard and Gerard Collins are on Conor Laverty's bench after starting in the June 2021 contest.

The Down line-up includes six Kilcoo players - McEvoy, Doherty, goalkeeper Niall Kane, half-back Miceal Rooney plus forwards Ryan Johnston and Eugene Branagan - as Conor Laverty's arrival as manager has resulted in more of his fellow club-men committing to the county's cause.

Down: N Kane; P Laverty (capt), A Doherty, S Annett; D Magill, N McParland, M Rooney; D Guinness, R McEvoy; C Doherty, R Johnston, L Kerr; D McAleenan, P Havern, E Branagan.

Subs: C Smyth, C Fitzpatrick, A Morgan, P Branagan, C Poland, A Gilmore, C McCrickard, R Mason, S Johnston, G Collins, C Francis.

Donegal's side has eight starters from the 2021 Ulster contest as goalkeeper Shaun Patton remains alongside defenders Brendan McCole, Stephen McMenamin, Eoghan Ban Gallagher plus midfielder Caolan McGonagle and attackers Ciaran Thompson, Michael Langan and Hugh McFadden.

Needless to say, the now retired Michael Murphy is missing while injury rules out his successor as skipper Patrick McBrearty, with another key man Ryan McHugh unavailable after pulling out of the squad.

Langan is a late inclusion in the attack as he replaces injury doubt Oisin Gallen.

Mark Curran and Muff man Caolan McColgan will make their championship debuts in defence but while the starting side does have familiar names, the bench does look exceptionally light on experience.

Donegal: S Patton; M Curran, B McCole, C Ward; C McColgan, S McMenamin, E Ban Gallagher (capt); C McGonagle, J McGee; D O Baoill, M Langan, C Thompson; H McFadden, J Brennan, C O'Donnell.

Subs: G Mulready, JR Molloy, O Gallen, B O'Donnell, R O'Donnell, L McGlynn, J McGroddy, D Dorrian, K Tobin, J McSharry, K Barrett.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

Down manager Conor Laverty's coaching ability has gained widespread acclaim and his assistant Marty Clarke is probably better placed than anyone to explain what makes the Kilcoo genius tick.

Clarke says Laverty's ability to deliver his message in a very practical way is among his greatest coaching attributes.

"If he sees something he doesn't like, he'll grab the ball and execute exactly what he wants to see," says Clarke.

"That's a really unique way of being able to coach."

Read more of Clarke's insight here.

Image source, Inpho

Armagh forward Conor Turbitt is delighted with his start to the Ulster SFC after hitting 0-7 in the quarter-final win over Cavan.

Turbitt followed up his 0-8 in the opener against Antrim with another man-of-the-match display in the victory over Cavan at Breffni Park.

Read more here

Image source, inpho

Michael Murphy
Former Donegal captain and All-Ireland winner on BBC Two NI

It seems like entire country was speaking about Donegal in the league. This game was earmarked to be a difficult one. It's going to be tricky and really difficult. I know those players out there and they can show the class and quality of players they are.

Armagh cruise into the last four of the Ulster SFC with a 1-14 to 0-12 victory over Cavan at Breffni Park.

Down and Donegal won't be thinking about Ulster semi-finals at this stage but whoever emerges from today's Newry contest will face Armagh in next Sunday's last-four tie.

Despite having played in Division Three this year, many fancied Cavan to give Armagh their fill of it yesterday but it wasn't to be for the Breffnimen as Kieran McGeeney's side ran out 1-14 to 0-12 winners.

In truth, the final scoreline was flattering to Cavan as they notched a few late points with Armagh easing off in the closing stages.

You always had the feeling that Armagh were keeping plenty in reserve yesterday and despite all the drama of their surprise relegation from Division One of the Allianz Football League, they look in a good place heading into next weekend.

Image source, Inpho

Don't forget that in addition to our coverage on BBC Two Northern Ireland, you can also watch today's action on the BBC iPlayer.

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC Sport NI has you totally covered for today's match with our coverage beginning at 13:40 BST on BBC Two and the BBC iPlayer.

Thomas Niblock is presenting today's coverage and will be joined in the match studio at Pairc Esler by Donegal legend Michael Murphy and Dublin great Philly McMahon.

Oisin Langan will be joined in the commentary box by former Derry star and Kilcoo boss Conleith Gilligan while pitchside reporter Orla Bannon will get further insight on the Mournemen from long-time Down stalwart Kevin McKernan.

Image source, BBC Sport

The Ulster Championship has only been going two weeks and we're already reaching the concluding quarter-final today and in terms of intrigue, we've probably saved the best for last.

Plenty of laptop keys and mobile phone buttons have been touched in relation to Donegal's annus horribilis that 2023 has so far proved.

Paddy Carr's belated appointment as manager last autumn raised a few eyebrows and while his side beat under-strength All-Ireland champions Kerry in their League opener on the final Sunday in January, it proved a false dawn and by 23 March, the Fanad man had exited, seemingly after being shown the door by a delegation of senior players.

After throwing in the towel in a couple of League games prior to Carr's dismissal, everyone expected the Donegal players to show more spirit in the concluding dead rubber in Roscommon but if anything the performance was worse as the Rossies won 0-21 to 0-9.

Interim manager Aidan O'Rourke, who had been Carr's coach, spoke last Tuesday of how the Donegal players "have worked hard" since those headline grabbing days in late March.

In terms of Down, they looked massively improved under new boss Conor Laverty in the Dr McKenna Cup and while they missed out on promotion in Division Three, the mood music coming from the Mournes suggests that the county believes that more misery can be piled on Donegal today, with a strong Kilcoo contingent set to be involved.

Image source, Inp