Good afternoon and welcome to our live minute-by-minute coverage of the Ulster SFC quarter-final between Derry and Donegal in Celtic Park.

Tyrone and Down served up a couple of interesting appetisers but with this meeting of two of Ulster’s top contenders — and the Munster hurling clash of Cork and Waterford — today feels like the day that Championship 2014 really begins.

Throw-in is at 2pm.

First things first, here are the teams as named earlier this week. Three Championship debutants for Derry — Thomas Mallon, Gareth McKinless and Kevin Johnson

Derry

1. Thomas Mallon – An Lúb

2. Dermot McBride – Baile na Scrine

3. Gareth McKinless – Baile an Doire

4. Chrissy McKaigue – Leacht Néill

5. Kevin Johnson – Dún Geimhin

6. Mark Lynch – Beannchar (C)

7. Gerard O’Kane – Gleann an Iolair

8. Fergal Doherty – Baile Eachaidh

9. Patsy Bradley – Leacht Néill

10. Ciarán McFaul – Gleann

11. Sean Leo McGoldrick – Eoghan Rua

12. Enda Lynn – Grainlocha

13. Benny Heron – Baile na Scrine

14. Emmett McGuckin – Machaire Fíolta

15. Cailean O’Boyle -Leamhaigh

Here’s how Donegal will line out. Two changes from the side that lost to Monaghan in the Division 2 final — Neil Gallagher and Leo McLoone both start.

Donegal

1. Paul Durcan – Na Ceithre Máistir

2. Éamonn Mc Gee – Gaoth Dobhair

3. Neil McGee – Gaoth Dobhair

4. Karl Lacey – Na Ceithre Máistir

5. Frank McGlynn – Gleann Fhinne

6. Leo McLoone – Naomh Conaill

7. Anthony Thompson – Naomh Conaill

8. Neil Gallagher – Gleann Súilí

9. Martin McElhinney – Naomh Micheál

10. Christy Toye – Naomh Mícheál

11. Ryan McHugh – Cill Chartha

12. Odhrán Mac Niallais – Gaoth Dobhair

13 Patrick McBrearty – Cill Chartha

14. Michael Murphy – Gleann Súilí

15. Colm McFadden – Naomh Mícheál

Ahead of throw-in, the bookies can hardly split these. Derry are 4/5 while Donegal are 11/8. Who do you fancy?

Ciaran Whelan is in the RTÉ studio and he expects Donegal to press Derry high up the field and try to stifle their attacks from the back.

The teams are parading in front of the stand at Celtic Park. It’s all set up to be an intriguing afternoon.

A couple of late changes — Neil Gallagher and Martin McElhinney are both out for Donegal, replaced by Paddy McGrath and Darach O’Connor.

For Derry, Emmet Bradley replaces Benny Heron.

On that note — Buncrana teen Darach O’Connor should really be studying for his Leaving Cert today, don’t you think?

THROW IN: Joe McQuillan gets us underway.

It looks like Ryan McHugh is dropping back from the Donegal half-forward line to pick up Enda Lynn. Karl Lacey is stuck like glue to Mark Lynch.

4 mins – There was an off-the-ball incident there between Neil McGee and Emmet McGuckin but Joe McQuillan is happy enough to give them a talking to and nothing more.

Derry 0-1 Donegal 0-0: 5 mins – Mark Lynch, who is wearing number six today but playing at corner-forward, kicks the opening free. That takes his total to 2-49 for the year so far.

6 mins – Patsy Bradley is a little bit fortunate to escape a black card there. He tangled with Odhrán Mac Niallais and the two went to ground. Some would see that as a deliberate pull down but Bradley escapes with just a tick in the referee’s notebook.

Michael Murphy’s free hits the post.

Derry 0-1 Donegal 0-1 — 8 mins: Donegal take a quick free from midfield and Darach O’Connor shows those young legs to race clear of the Derry defenders and point on his Championship debut.

10 mins – What a chance for Donegal! Paddy McBrearty does really well to create space but his shot on the turn strikes the upright and drops. Anthony Thompson is quickest to react and he feeds McBrearty who has a superb goal chance but blasts wide.

Derry 0-2 Donegal 0-1 — 12 mins: Lynch points another easy free and Derry lead again.

14 mins – A worrying moment for Derry as Fergal Doherty lies prostrate in the middle of the pitch and needs some treatment on his back.

Donegal play on against the 14 men and after a nice pass inside from Odhrán Mac Niallais, Anthony Thompson squanders what should have been a simple point.

16 mins — SUBSTITUTION: Doherty is unable to continue which is a big blow for Derry. Niall Holly comes on to replace him.

17 mins – Sean Leo McGoldrick is the latest to waste a straightforward scoring chance. The point-taking from both sides has been woeful so far.

Derry 0-3 Donegal 0-2 — 18 mins: Christy Toye comes in off the right wing to point but Derry come straight back down the other end and Emmet Bradley kick their first point from play to restore the lead.

Derry 0-3 Donegal 0-3 — 21 mins: Karl Lacey goes around the outside of Cailean O’Boyle and points to level things up.

Derry 0-4 Donegal 0-3 — 22 mins: Magnificent score from Derry sub Niall Holly, collecting the ball out on the left touchline before curling a beauty over the bar.

It’s not real surprise, but there has been a lot of handpassing and a lot of Donegal defending in this opening quarter…

Derry 0-5 Donegal 0-3 — 26 mins: Emmett Bradley kicks a big free from back out close to the 45 line. Fine score.

It’s not just Donegal doing the defending, you know!

30 mins – Emmett Bradley takes his time over another Derry free, and maybe tries to steal a yard or two infield, but it’s spotted by the officials and Joe McQuillan decides to throw the ball in instead.

32 mins – It’s about 12 minutes now since Donegal’s last score. Paddy McBrearty looks to have ended the drought but he drops his point attempt just short and Mallon takes it under the bar.

Derry 0-6 Donegal 0-3 — 33 mins: Ciarán McFaul kicks a fine score to stretch Derry’s lead to three. Slowly but surely, they’re finding a way through.

Derry 0-6 Donegal 0-4 — 35+1 mins: Patsy Bradley concedes a pretty needless free in added time and Murphy makes no mistake. That’s his first score of the afternoon.

HT: Derry 0-6 Donegal 0-4

So far, so dull it must be said. Both sides aren’t shy of defending but Donegal in particular are looking very one-dimensional. They will have to change things up a bit in the second half to have any chance of winning this.

Pat Spillane quotes the stats on RTÉ — 154 handpasses to 33 kickpasses in that first half.

“We were intoxicated by beautiful football [last summer and in the league] but to paraphrase a politician, it hasn’t gone away,” he says.

Some of the Twitter reaction to that first half:

Derry 0-6 Donegal 0-5 — 36 mins: We’re back underway and a quickly-taken free puts Anthony Thompson in for the first score of the second half.

SUBSTITUTION: One Donegal change to tell you about at the break. Martin McElhinney is on for Christy Toye.

GOAL FOR DONEGAL! Donegal 1-5 Derry 0-6 — 39 mins: A wonderful Donegal move and a cracking finish by Leo McLoone. Ryan McHugh, Michael Murphy and Frank McGlynn all played their part and McLoone lofted it over Mallon. What a start!

Donegal 1-7 Derry 0-6 — 42 mins: What a remarkable turnaround by Donegal. Michael Murphy kicks a fine point from play and then booms over a long free with deadly accuracy. After playing some putrid football for most of the first half, Donegal lead by four!

SUBSTITUTIONS: Neil Gallagher, who has been carrying an ankle injury, comes on to replace teen forward Darach O’Connor for Donegal.

Derry make a change as well – Ryan Bell on for Cailean O’Boyle.

Donegal 1-8 Derry 0-6 — 46 mins: Anthony Thompson — who has played some fine football today — lets a long ball in to Murphy and he turns McKaigue who brings him down. Murphy points.

Donegal 1-9 Derry 0-6 — 48 mins: Ooooh! McBrearty really should have scored there with the goal at his mercy but blasts over the bar. Donegal now lead by six – SIX!

SUBSTITUTION: Benny Herron on to replace Niall Holly, who looks to be carrying a knock.

Donegal 1-9 Derry 0-7 — 50 mins: Mark Lynch points a free without too much fuss. That’s Derry’s first point in the second half!

Donegal 1-9 Derry 0-8 — 53 mins: Ciaran McFaul lays it off short to Benny Heron and, given a moment’s respite by Donegal’s blanket defence, he takes on the shot from distance and bounces a point off the top of the bar and over.

55 mins – Ryan Bell kicks Derry’s sixth wide from a scorable position.

Donegal 1-9 Derry 0-9 — 59 mins: Emmett Bradley points a free off his left boot and there’s just three points between the teams as we head into the last 10 minutes.

Donegal 1-10 Derry 0-9 — 60 mins: Fine score by Martin McElhinney who uses his power to shrug off Emmet Bradley and points. Donegal needed that.

Donegal 1-10 Derry 0-10 — 62 mins: Benny Herron kicks a fine 45′. Just a point between the sides now.

James Kielt is on for Derry now as well.

Donegal 1-10 Derry 0-11 — 63 mins: Mark Lynch shows how to beat the blanket defence, sending over a fine long-range score. Derry definitely in the ascendancy now after that blistering start to the second half by Donegal.

Two minutes to play here…

Donegal play keep ball as the clock ticks towards 70…

Donegal 1-11 Derry 0-11 — 70 mins: Wonderful score by Donegal as they take a huge chunk of time out of the clock and then find Leo McLoone who points. Derry need a goal.

There’ll be two added minutes.

SENT OFF: James Kielt is sent off for a hand trip on Eamonn McGee. Kielt was already on a yellow so the black card means he’s sent off without replacement.

One last attack for Derry…

We’ve played well over the two added minutes but Derry have a free in. They’ll need to drop it in…

McFaul is held up. Another Derry free…

FULL TIME: Donegal 1-11 Derry 0-11

It’s all over in Celtic Park and after a pretty unimpressive first half, Donegal have done enough to dump Derry out of the provincial championship.

Next up for Jim McGuinness’s men, it’s Fermanagh or Antrim in the Ulster SFC semis on 22 June.

For Derry, it’s the back door.

That’s all from me for now but click here to join Fintan O’Toole who is live from Semple Stadium for the Munster hurling clash between Cork and Waterford.

Thanks for reading.