A very good Saturday afternoon to you all, here begins the build-up to the SFC 4a qualifier between Roscommon and Clare.

Throw-in isn’t until three, so don’t hold back on letting us know your thoughts on the game. Comment below, tweet us @The42GAA or find us on Facebook.

It’s the first time the counties have ever met in the Championship, and Roscommon will be hoping to give a good account of themselves and defy the perceived logic that a six-day turnaround means defeat in this competition.

Here are the teams announced for the game in Salthill.

Four late changes to that Roscommon team, I’m not sure why we bother naming teams at all.

Donie Shine comes in at full forward for Senan Kilbride.

Ultan Harney, Niall Kilroy and Enda Smith also in as Fintan Cregg, Conor Devaney and Fergal Lennon make way.

Here’s that re-jigged Roscommon side courtesy of the Sky graphics department.

THROW-IN. We’re under way at Pearse Stadium.

It’s been a frenetic start  with Clare threatening. First  the chance was blocked by Ultan Harney.

A minute later, Dean Ryan was clean through on the right side of goal, but his fisted pass was over hit and Keelan Sexton was unable to get on the end of it.

Clare 0 – 0 Roscommon 0 – 2

Two chances apiece. Roscommon have taken both of theirs, while Clare have been wasteful. Enda Smith fired over the second of them, a fine right foot effort.

GOAL! Clare 1 – 1 Roscommon 0 – 2

Clare have hit their straps alright. David Tubridy spins in the small square and blasts home a sixth minute finish after Garry Brennan had taken the Banner’s first score.

Clare 1 -1 Roscommon 0 – 3

Roscommon somewhat rattled since their quick-fire scores, but they fashion a good attach that forced Martin McMahon to concede a free, which Ciaran Murtagh easily slots.

Clare 1 – 1 Roscommon 0 – 4

Martin McMahon is again penalised for a foul and this time he is given a yellow card before  Murtagh draws the sides level.

Clare 1 – 3 Roscommon 0 – 4

Dean Ryan is causing all sorts of problems for Roscommon and Tubridy follows his score up with one of his own after Sexton laid it back his way.

Clare 1 – 3 Roscommon 0 – 6

A fine score from Donie Shine from a free wide on the right comes after a brilliant block denied Jamie Malone at the other end.

And we’re level again as Sean Mullooly goes on a rampage up the middle and hands off a  one-two before firing over.

Clare 1 – 4 Roscommon 0 – 6

A great score finished off by Eoin Cleary after Banner midfielder Gary Brennan powered his way upfield.

GOAL! Clare 2 – 4 Roscommon 0 – 6

Brilliant goal from Jamie Malone after Sexton showed his strength and Cleary darted right to play the half forward in.

Clare 2 – 4 Roscommon 0 – 6

For all Clare’s fine scores, they also have some atrocious wides to their name. Roscommon very fortunate to still be in this game.

Clare 2 – 5 Roscommon 0 – 6

Great stuff from Gary Brennan again, forces his way through Cathal Compton who drags him down on the edge of the area. Jamie Tubridy points the free.

Clare 2 – 6 Roscommon 0 – 6

Roscommon look like a side who are fading fast. Clare first to every 50-50 ball and the latest breaks to Cleary 20 metres from goal and he slots over.

HALF-TIME: Clare 2 – 6 Roscommon 0 – 7

Shane Hickey gets a yellow card, leaving an easy conversion from the free for Roscommon before the half-time whistle comes.

The second half is off and running, here’s shot David Tubridy won’t forget in a hurry.

Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Clare 2 – 6 Roscommon 0 – 7

Oof! The second half begins with a rash high challenge from Cathal O’Connor, who receives… A RED CARD.

Clare 2 – 7 Roscommon 0 – 7

Well, the free-flowing game of the first half is dead and gone. David Tubridy goes flying to the turf in an effort to even the sides up after he felt contact from Sean Mullooly.

Clare’s lead is back to up to six with a free from close range from Cleary.

Clare 2 – 7 Roscommon 0 – 7

Sean Mullooly in the thick of it again as Fintan Cregg comes trying to rile him. This time, he’s punished and gets a yellow card.

Clare 2 – 7 Roscommon 0 – 7

Black card for Kevin Higgins. Another man sent to the stands and again  you have to say it’s a deserved one as he left an arm hanging to drag back the attacker around shoulder height.

Clare 2 – 7 Roscommon 0 – 7

And there you have it, Clare got their wish. Sean Mullooly gets  second yellow and then a red card. Maybe we can get back to trying to play football now that we’ve got 14 on 14.

Clare 2 – 7 Roscommon 0 – 7

Almost, we almost were back playing decent football there as Clare attacked with slick hand-passing between three men marauding forward… then Pearse Lillis unleashed a 20 yard shot that sunk into the keeeper’s hands.

Clare 2 – 7 Roscommon 1 – 7

GOAL FOR ENDA SMITH. Roscommon are back in it. Smith slaps his finish home over an advancing keeper after a high hand pass is delivered at an angle to the edge of the square.

Clare 2 – 7 Roscommon 1 – 8

Clare are still paying the price for switching to spoil mode as soon as they were issued the game’s first red card. With the sides level on manpower again, they can’t settle back into a rhythm and the chances they do create end in weak efforts.

At the other end, Roscommon are still chipping away and as Diarmuid Murtagh converts an easy free, they must be growing in belief that six-day turnaround wins are actually possible.

Clare 2 – 8 Roscommon 1 – 8

An excellent, timely burst from Jamie Malone earns an easy free for Cleary. Just what the Banner needed.

Clare 2 – 8 Roscommon 1 – 8

And it proves to be a very steadying score. Smith misses a chance for Roscommon at one end and the Banner counter swiftly with Shane McGrath. He races up the left flank before delivering a sweetly struck score from 25 yards.

Clare 2 – 10 Roscommon 1 – 8

That should do it for Clare, Cleary bangs over another free and the lead is five points.

Clare 2 – 10 Roscommon 1 – 9

Really, really good effort from Roscommon centre half forward Conor Devaney, takes aim at the top corner from 18 yards and rifles a shot that goes just over the bar.

Clare 2 – 10 Roscommon 1 – 9

All the official stoppage and consultation has earned us seven extra minutes in this game and the dirty high shots are still flying in.

Clare 2 – 11 Roscommon 1 – 9

Red card for David Murray and Roscommon are down to 13.

Clare don’t waste time building their lead, Cleary adding to his tally for the day with a brilliantly struck shot.

Clare 2 – 12 Roscommon 1 – 9

There’s the icing on the cake before Clare head off for their first All-Ireland quarter final. Sean Malone swipes over a fine point from play.

FULL-TIME: Clare 2 – 12 Roscommon 1 – 9

The Banner continues to rise!

Clare are in the last eight of the All-Ireland series after a tremendous first-half display in which they left Roscommon completely out-gunned.

We’ll have the match report and reaction from Salthill to follow.