Donegal vs Down LIVE score updates from Ulster SFC semi-final clash

Irish Daily Mirror

27-04-2025

Ulster champions Donegal bid to reach a third provincial final in four years when they go head-to-head with Down this afternoon.
Jim McGuinness's side defeated Armagh on penalties in a dramatic decider last season and, following yesterday's thriller in Clones, the Orchard County are back in the final.
While Donegal would enjoy another tussle with Armagh, Down would also relish another crack at Kieran McGeeney's side.
One year ago at St Tiernach's Park, a last-gasp Jason Duffy point gave Armagh a one-point win over Down.
It meant the Mournemen's final chance at playing in the Sam Maguire Cup was gone, but they won the Tailteann Cup last summer so their place in the All-Ireland series is secure for this season.
Down were last in the Ulster final back in 2017 when they lost out to Tyrone and they'll need to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the 2025 Championship thus far if they are to reach this season's provincial final.
They did manage to defeat Donegal when they last met in the Championship back in 2023 prior to McGuinness taking over for a second term.
Conor Laverty's got out of jail somewhat against Fermanagh in last weekend's quarter-final, albeit Donegal had to withstand a late fightback from Monaghan in Clones last Sunday.
A place in the Ulster SFC final and a date with All-Ireland champions Armagh is at stake for Donegal and Down this afternoon.
We'll have all the latest build-up and team news ahead of throw-in at 3pm.
Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final: Fermanagh 0-23 Down 2-19
Down staged a late smash-and-grab raid with two late goals to deny Fermanagh a famous win in Saturday's Ulster SFC quarter-final at Brewster Park.
The Erne County were chasing their first win in the provincial series since 2018 and were seven points up with seven minutes remaining thanks to a five-point haul from Enniskillen native Conor Love.
However, a 1-2 salvo from Daniel Guinness turned the game on its head before back-to-back points from Pat Havern levelled the contest.
Down's comeback was complete when Ryan McEvoy slotted past Sean McNally with two minutes to go.
Both sides squandered a host of goal-scoring opportunities with McNally and his Down counterpart Ronan Burns in excellent form throughout.
Burns was certainly the busier of the two goalkeepers as he called into action to deny Conor Love before making a stunning double save to prevent Ryan Lyons and Conor McGee.
Peter Fegan also made an early block on Garvan Jones with McNally converting two 45s while Odhran Murdock, Pat Havern (free) and Danny Magill were on target for the Mournemen in the first quarter.
Down hit 0-5 without reply with Magill, Murdock adding further scores with Eugene Branagan also hitting a brace of points while Daniel Guinness saw his shot hit the crossbar and go over.
Their momentum was checked after losing Pierce Laverty to a black card for a trip on Shane McGullion and Fermanagh finished the half strongly with points from Josh Largo Elis and Jones, albeit Down led 0-11 to 0-8 at half-time thanks to a late point from the impressive John McGeough.
The third quarter belonged to Kieran Donnelly's men as they outscored the Mournemen 0-11 to 0-2 with Love bringing his tally to 0-5 with full-back Lee Cullen scoring the first two-pointer of the game.
Down appeared short of ideas and even shorter on time, but Guinness, Havern and McEvoy hit the key scores late on as Conor Laverty's men sealed a semi-final date with either Donegal or Monaghan.
Fermanagh scorers: C Love 0-5, G Jones 0-4 (0-1f), S McNally 0-3 (0-3 45s), J Cassidy 0-2, Darragh McGurn 0-2, Lee Cullen 0-2 (1tp), D McCusker 0-1, Fionan O'Brien 0-1 (0-1f), Ryan Lyons 0-1, JL Elis 0-1, R McCaffrey 0-1.
Down scorers: D Guinness 1-4 (1tp), R McEvoy 1-1, P Havern 0-4 (0-3fs), D Magill 0-2, E Branagan 0-2, Danny Magill 0-2, R Burns 0-1 (0-1 45), C Doherty 0-1, J McGeough 0-1, S Millar 0-1
Ulster SFC quarter-final: Monaghan 0-21 Donegal 0-23
Donegal booked their place in the last four of the Ulster SFC with a gutsy two-point win over Monaghan in Clones last Sunday.
The defending champions were six points ahead in the early stages of the second half, but the home side refused to lie down and fought all the way to the end.
The Farney were infuriated by David Coldrick's decision to blow for full-time as the hooter had sounded as Ryan O'Toole prepared to take a sideline ball.
By the letter of the law, the decision was correct and Monaghan will rue a series of wides late on while Conor McCarthy dragged a shot at goal narrowly wide of the target.
Donegal were by far the better team in the first half with Man-of-the-Match Peadar Mogan scoring three points from play while Ciaran Thompson scored 0-5.
Ryan McHugh was forced off with a leg injury after coming off second-best in a clash with Rory Beggan. However, he was able to return for the second half and ought to be fit to face Down next Sunday.
Jim McGuinness's side were 0-14 to 0-8 ahead at the break with his counterpart Gabriel Bannigan bringing in Jack McCarron and Gavin McPhillips before half-time.
McCarron and McCarthy landed two-pointers on the restart to reinvigorate Monaghan's charge with the Farney fans in the 16,120 crowd starting to find their voice.
A great cross-field pass from McCarthy to Dessie Ward led to a fine two-pointer from Mícheál cut the gap to one.
Mogan's fourth point halted Monaghan's comeback before Paddy McBrearty fisted his first point from play.
Michael Langan fisted the air when he landed his third point as Donegal looked to have repealed the hosts.
Yet, a brace of points from substitute Stephen Mooney kept Monaghan in touch and Dessie Ward's second two-pointer left two between the sides with one minute remaining.
The Ballybay defender had a chance to force extra-time, but he pulled his shot to the left and wide before the Farney ran out of time with O'Toole's sideline at the death.
Monaghan scorers: Dessie Ward 0-6 (2tps), Mícheál Bannigan 0-5 (1tp, 0-2fs), Conor McCarthy 0-3 (1tp); Stephen Mooney 0-2; Jack McCarron 0-2 (1tp); Gary Mohan 0-1; Rory Beggan 0-1 (0-1 45); Ryan McAnespie 0-1.
Donegal scorers: Ciaran Thompson 0-5 (1tp, 0-1m); Michael Langan 0-4; Peadar Mogan 0-4; Michael Murphy 0-3 (1tpf); Dáire Ó Baoill 0-2; Jamie Brennan 0-2; Paddy McBrearty 0-1; Oisín Gallen 0-1; Finnbarr Roarty 0-1.
Ulster SFC semi-final: Armagh 0-23 Tyrone 0-22
Armagh claimed a dramatic one-point victory over Tyrone in a pulsating Ulster SFC semi-final in Clones on Saturday.
Conor Turbitt was awarded a free after the hooter sounded and Rory Grugan converted from 20 metres as the Orchard County progressed to their third successive provincial final.
They'll be hoping for better fortune in a fortnight's time after losing to Derry and Donegal on penalties in each of the last two seasons as they try and win the Anglo-Celt Cup for the first time since 2008.
Pre-game fears over Darragh Canavan's fitness were allayed before throw-in, but veterans Mattie Donnelly and Peter Harte were unable to start while Darragh McMullen, Ben Crealey and Oisin O'Neill were drafted in for Armagh.
Canavan confirmed his well-being with a point after just 21 seconds, but was otherwise well shackled by Armagh defender Paddy Burns while Tomas McCormack kept Ruairi Canavan on a tight rein.
Indeed, the first half was something of an arm-wrestle and Darren McCurry's five-point haul kept the Red Hands in touch in a first half that Armagh dominated, just not on the scoreboard.
The return of All-Star midfielder Crealey and O'Neill saw Armagh boss the midfield battle with Callum O'Neill, Conaty and Andrew Murnin scoring two points each for the Orchard County while O'Neill kicked the first two-pointer of the game.
Michael McKernan raised an orange flag for Tyrone after 20 minutes and a foul on Conn Kilpatrick led to a free from McCurry to tie the game at 0-6 each.
Yet, Malachy O'Rourke's side couldn't get their noses in front and a brilliant point from play from goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty restored Armagh's lead and they moved three ahead on the cusp of half-time with another from Conaty.
Armagh were comfortably the better team in the third quarter and they opened up a six-point advantage with Crealey splitting the posts after 45 minutes.
McCurry's sixth point was matched by another Grugan free and there was little to suggest Tyrone were about to mount a comeback.
Yet, the introduction of Eoin McElholm sparked fresh impetus to Tyrone's attack. Having played a key role in their U20 semi-final win over Derry last Wednesday night, the Loughmacrory ace brought a directness to the Red Hands and he kicked a point on his introduction before winning a free which McCurry converted and they were soon on level terms.
Canavan converted a free before his Errigal Ciaran clubmate Peter Harte fired over a two-pointer to tie the game.
McGeeney took a swipe at a sideline flag following that score and Gough issued the Armagh boss with a yellow for dissent and awarded a free to the Red Hands.
McCurry opted to try for two and his kick was good as he brought his tally to 0-10.
From being six down, Tyrone now led the All-Ireland champions by two with less than 10 minutes remaining. The 21,288 fans in attendance were in full voice and the big question for Tyrone was could they hold on?
They were, of course, the last team to inflict a Championship defeat on Armagh in 70 minutes back in 2023, but the Orchard men have won an All-Ireland since then and they showed why they are champions in the closing moments.
Jarly Óg Burns made it a one-point game before substitute Stefan Campbell, so often a man for the clutch moments, scored the equaliser with 50 seconds to go.
Tyrone's failure to win their own kickout came back to haunt them, but they felt aggrieved at the decision to award Conor Turbitt a last-gasp free with Peter Harte deemed to have illegally stopped the Armagh attacker.
Nobody would have refused another 20 minutes of these great rivals slogging it out, although Grugan was never going to miss a free from 20 metres.
Tyrone will have three weeks to lick their wounds for the All-Ireland series while Armagh have another crack at an Ulster title in a fortnight.
ARMAGH: E Rafferty 0-1; P Burns, B McCambridge, T McCormack; R McQuillan 0-2, G McCabe, J Óg Burns 0-2; C O'Neill 0-3, B Crealey 0-1; D McMullen, O Conaty 0-4, P McGrane; R Grugan 0-3 (0-2fs), A Murnin 0-2, O O'Neill 0-3 (1tp).
Subs: C Turbitt 0-1 for O'Neill (53), J Hall for Crealey (56), C McConville for McMullen (61), S Campbell 0-1 for Murnin (66), S McPartland for McGrane (67).
TYRONE: N Morgan; C Quinn, P Teague, N Devlin; M McKernan 0-2 (1tp), R Brennan, K McGeary; B Kennedy, C Kilpatrick 0-2 (1tp); A Donaghy J Oguz, C Daly; D McCurry 0-10 (0-4fs, 1tpf), R Canavan, D Canavan 0-4 (0-2fs).
Subs: S O'Donnell for Donaghy (42), B McDonnell for Oguz (48), E McElholm 0-2 for R Canavan (48), P Harte 0-2 (1tp) for Daly (56), P Hampsey for Quinn (62).
REFEREE: D Gough (Meath).