Welcome along to this afternoon’s liveblog as we get set for the crunch showdown in the North-West. It’s Donegal, the reigning All-Ireland champions, against Tyrone, the 2008 All-Ireland champions, in the quarter-final of the Ulster championship in Ballybofey.

Here’s all you need to know about today’s showdown in MacCumhaill Park.

Lots of rumours going around about the make up of the Donegal team. We’ll let you know of any pre-match changes but here’s the starting fifteen that was announced during the week.

DONEGAL: Paul Durcan (Four Masters); Paddy McGrath (Ardara), Neil McGee (Gweedore), Eamonn McGee (Gweedore); Anthony Thompson (Naomh Conaill), Karl Lacey (Four Masters), Frank McGlynn (Glenfin); Neil Gallagher (Glenswilly), Rory Kavanagh (St Eunan’s); Mark McHugh (Kilcar), Leo McLoone (Naomh Conaill), Ryan Bradley (Buncrana); Patrick McBrearty (Kilcar), Michael Murphy (Glenswilly), Colm McFadden (St Michael’s).

And here’s the Tyrone side that has been selected by their manager Mickey Harte.

Two newcomers to championship football in their exciting goalkeeper Niall Morgan and attacker Conor McAliskey. Stephen O’Neill and Peter Harte both return to the side after being injured for the league final loss to Dublin.

TYRONE: Niall Morgan (Edendork); PJ Quinn (Moortown), Conor Clarke (Omagh), Cathal McCarron (Dromore); Justin McMahon (Omagh), Joe McMahon (Omagh), Conor Gormley (Carrickmore); Colm Cavanagh (Moy), Sean Cavanagh (Moy); Mark Donnelly (Carrickmore), Peter Harte (Errigal Ciaran), Matthew Donnelly (Trillick); Martin Penrose (Carrickmore), Stephen O’Neill (Clann na Gael), Conor McAliskey (Clonoe).

Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan.
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

All over in the Ulster minor championship curtain-raiser in Ballybofey with Tyrone having defeated Donegal by 1-9 to 1-3.

News from Ballybofey is that Karl Lacey is out of the game for Donegal.

And now it has been confirmed that Mark McHugh is also out for Donegal. Declan Walsh and David Walsh come into the Donegal starting line-up instead of McHugh and Lacey.

Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

The loss of Lacey and McHugh is not hugely unexpected as both players have been struggling with injuries in recent weeks. Yet they are massive losses for Donegal as both exerted a huge influence on last year’s run to win the All-Ireland.

Cavan’s Joe McQuillan is the referee for today’s showdown. He’s going to need to keep a close watch on what is going to be a bruising and physical encounter.

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte with his backroom staff on the pitch before the game
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

Tyrone are unchanged.

We’re set to go, excitement building ahead of a huge match in Ballybofey.

Early free for Donegal after Ryan Bradley turns over possession and is fouled.

Donegal 0-1 Tyrone 0-1: 2 mins – Colm McFadden taps over the free for Donegal but Tyrone hit back quickly through a point from Conor McAliskey after a great pass by Martin Penrose.

Donegal 0-2 Tyrone 0-1: 4 mins – And now Donegal are back in front after Michael Murphy taps over a point.

First free of the day for Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan but he strikes his shot wide.

Donegal 0-3 Tyrone 0-1: 7 mins - No problems for Donegal at the other end as Colm McFadden swings over a free.

Donegal 0-4 Tyrone 0-1: 8 mins – Donegal’s David Walsh sends his side three points clear with a classy point.

Rain starting to fall in Ballybofey as the conditions deteriorate.

Conor Gormley off target with a long-range effort, a point Tyrone could have done with to settle their challenge.

Donegal 0-4 Tyrone 0-2: 15 mins – But now Tyrone do grab a point as Sean Cavanagh kicks over a close-range free to cut the gap to two points.

Donegal 0-4 Tyrone 0-3: 19 mins – No mistake on this occasion by Niall Morgan as the Tyrone goalkeeper runs upfield and calmly despatches the ball between the posts from a free.

Morgan enjoyed that score judging by his reaction to the home supporters.

Donegal 0-5 Tyrone 0-3: 21 mins – Their ace marksman Colm McFadden is shining already for Donegal as he curls over a point from play after a pass by Neil Gallagher.

This is going to be a really tough afternoon of football with the amount of rain that is falling in Ballybofey.

Donegal 0-5 Tyrone 0-4: 22 mins – A piece of trademark brilliance by Stephen O’Neill as he floats over a beautiful point for Tyrone as he evades Donegal’s Paddy McGrath.

Mark McHugh into the Donegal team for Frank McGlynn. Big substitution that by Jim McGuinness.

Donegal 0-5 Tyrone 0-5: 25 mins – And now the teams are level after Mattie Donnelly barges through the defence and pops over a point. Could have been a goal on there.

Tyrone 0-6 Donegal 0-5: 26 mins – Magnificent point by Colm Cavanagh as the Tyrone midfielder fires over off his left to send his side ahead. Tyrone’s long-range shooting has been impressive as they seek to cut out Donegal’s blanket defence.

Into the Tyrone team comes Patrick McNeice with Conor McAliskey making way.

Goal for Donegal from Colm McFadden!

Donegal 1-5 Tyrone 0-6: 32 mins – The first goal of the game has arrived from Colm McFadden. Brilliant quick thinking by Michael Murphy to pump in a long free, good ingenuity by Patrick McBrearty to palm the ball down into the path of McFadden and he neatly slotted the ball with his right foot past the advancing Niall Morgan.

Donegal 1-6 Tyrone 0-7: 34 mins – Michael Murphy pops over a free that sends Donegal into a three point lead but then Tyrone hit back with Mattie Donnelly scoring off his left.

We’re into injury-time at the end of the first-half.

Bad miss from a free from Stephen O’Neill for Tyrone.

Half-Time: Donegal 1-6 Tyrone 0-7: That’s it at the break, Donegal are leading by two points in Ballybofey.

The attendance for today’s game is 17,519.

Donegal’s Colm McFadden celebrates scoring his sides opening goal with Patrick McBrearty
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

Martin O’Reilly into the Donegal team for Ryan Bradley.

Dermot Carlin is on for Tyrone instead of PJ Quinn.

Donegal 1-6 Tyrone 0-8: 36 mins – Justin McMahon pops over a point for Tyrone but the Red Hands earlier in that move had penalty claims waved away after Martin Penrose looked to have been fouled.

Donegal 1-6 Tyrone 0-9: 40 mins: Now the sides are level as Sean Cavanagh points for Tyrone. Some controversy over the score as Donegal disputed whether the ball had travelled between the uprights. Cavanagh now into full-forward for Mickey Harte’s team.

Niall Morgan is not having a productive day from placed balls. The Tyrone goalkeeper has just struck a ’45 wide as his accuracy deserts him.

Martin McElhinney has come on for Donegal.

And it’s another wide from a long-range free from Morgan for Tyrone as Donegal bring on Karl Lacey and Ross Wherity.

Goal for Donegal!

Donegal 2-6 Tyrone 0-9: 50 mins – Ross Wherity, moments after coming onto the pitch, grabs a goal for Donegal. Patrick McBrearty tears in from the right wing and offloads across where Wherity palms the ball to the net.

Donegal 2-8 Tyrone 0-9: 53 mins – Now Donegal have gone five points clear with McBrearty and Murphy both tapping over points.

Aidan Cassidy is on for Tyrone for Justin McMahon. Tyrone badly need a score now after conceding 1-2 without reply but it looks like they could rue those series of misses early in the second-half.

Kyle Coney is into the Tyrone team.

Colm Cavanagh is booked for Tyrone. Fortunate not to see red there it seems after committing a high challenge.

Tyrone are down to 14 men now after Joe McMahon is sent off after being shown a second yellow card.

Donegal 2-9 Tyrone 0-9: 63 mins – It’s looking ominous now for Tyrone as Rory Kavanagh fires over a point to send them six clear.

Just six minutes remaining now and gaps starting to appear in the Tyrone defence as Donegal have the advantage of an extra man.

Tyrone’s last score was in the 40th minute when Sean Cavanagh registered that disputed point. That’s been too long a gap to go without a score.

Goal chance for Tyrone as Peter Harte smashes a left-foot drive that is brilliantly and bravely blocked by Mark McHugh.

Donegal 2-10 Tyrone 0-9: 67 mins – Now Donegal have gone seven points clear and it’s come from the superb Patrick McBrearty as he raises a white flag after great work by Martin McElhinney.

We’re in injury-time now but this game is done and dusted.

Donegal 2-10 Tyrone 0-10: 73 mins – A late consolation point for Martin Penrose for Tyrone.

Full-Time: Donegal 2-10 Tyrone 0-10: All over in Ballybofey and Donegal have triumphed by six points.

All over in Ballybofey and the reigning All-Ireland champions Donegal have issued a significant opening statement. They lead by 1-6 to 0-7 at the interval and successfully closed out the game in the second-half. Colm McFadden and Ross Wherity grabbed their goals.

Here are the scorers from today’s match.

Scorers for Donegal: Colm McFadden 1-3 (0-2f), Ross Wherity 1-0, Michael Murphy 0-3 (0-2f), Patrick McBrearty 0-2, David Walsh, Rory Kavanagh 0-1 each.
Scorers for Tyrone: Sean Cavanagh (0-1f), Mattie Donnelly 0-2 each, Conor McAliskey, Niall Morgan (0-1f), Justin McMahon, Martin Penrose, Stephen O’Neill, Colm Cavanagh 0-1 each.

That’s all from us today, thanks for joining us as Donegal march on to face Down or Derry in the Ulster semi-final.