We’re twenty minutes away from throw-in to the 2012 All-Ireland senior football final and the atmosphere is simply electric in Croke Park. This is going to be an amazing occasion as Donegal and Mayo do battle.

Before we get started, here’s some pre-match reading. A guide to today’s match here and the views of TheScore.ie’s columnist Ciaran Murphy and our Gaelic Football analyst Conor Deegan.

The Mayo team has just been announced and crucially fitness worries Lee Keegan, Colm Boyle and Aidan O’Shea are all set start. Here’s the side that James Horan will send into action.

MAYO: David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites); Kevin Keane (Westport), Ger Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites), Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis); Lee Keegan (Westport), Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe), Colm Boyle (Davitts); Barry Moran (Castlebar Mitchels), Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy); Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore), Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber), Alan Dillon (Ballintubber); Michael Conroy (Davitts), Enda Varley (Garrymore), Jason Doherty (Burrishoole).

And here’s the Donegal team.

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

Both teams are currently getting set to meet President Michael D Higgins with the red carpet already rolled out. The referee for today’s match is Maurice Deegan of Laois with David Coldrick from Meath the standby referee and Eddie Kinsella of Laois the other linesman. The sideline official is Cork’s Conor Lane.

The Mayo substitutes for today’s game are:

16. Kenneth O’Malley, 17. Shane McHale, 18. Peadar Gardiner, 19. Richie Feeney, 20. Danny Geraghty, 21. Chris Barrett, 22. Seamus O’Shea, 23. Jason Gibbons, 24. Alan Freeman, 25. Cathal Carolan, 26. Evan Regan.

And the Donegal substitutes are:

16. Michael Boyle, 17. Martin McElhinney, 18. Marty Boyle, 19. David Walsh, 20. Christy Toye, 21. Stephen Griffin, 22. Daniel McLaughlin, 23. Martin O’Reilly, 24. Dermot Molloy, 25. Declan Walsh, 26. Adrian Hanlon.

The pre-match parade is currently underway and we’re closing in on throw-in of what promises to be a fascinating match. The excitement levels are huge in the stadium amongst both sets of supporters.

The national anthem will shortly be played as both teams gather for one last pre-match huddle.

It’s time for action.

The first wide of the game is registered by Donegal as a long ball for Michael Murphy eludes him and the ball rolls wide.

Goal for Donegal from Michael Murphy!

Donegal 1-0 Mayo 0-0: 4 mins – An explosive start to the game as Donegal raise a green flag through Michael Murphy. It was a marvelous strike as he gathered a pass from Karl Lacey, held off Kevin Keane and smashed a bullet of a shot past David Clarke.

Donegal 1-1 Mayo 0-0: 6 mins – Donegal hit their first point through a Colm McFadden free after Mark McHugh was fouled by a high tackle from Lee Keegan, who was booked subsequently.

Donegal have started brightly, Mayo need a score to settle their challenge.

Free for Mayo after Michael Conroy is fouled.

But Enda Varley’s effort drops short and Donegal are able to clear their lines.

Goal for Donegal from Colm McFadden!

Donegal 2-1 Mayo 0-0: 12 mins – Donegal hit the net again through Colm McFadden after Patrick McBrearty’s shot hit the post, the ball slipped from the grasp of Kevin Keane and McFadden billowed the back of the net.

The debate about that second Donegal goal will be whether Mayo should have been given a free at the other end before it as Cillian O’Connor looked to have been fouled. Donegal have nearly got in for a third goal but David Clarke pulls off a smart save to deny McFadden.

Donegal 2-1 Mayo 0-1: 15 mins – Finally Mayo get off the mark and it’s a wonderful score by Kevin McLoughlin after the alert Alan Dillon played a short free to him.

Donegal 2-1 Mayo 0-2: 17 mins – Better play by Mayo as Cillian O’Connor swings over a free after Enda Varley was fouled. They do look vulnerable in their full-back line though when Donegal punt high balls in for Murphy or McFadden.

Donegal 2-2 Mayo 0-2: 19 mins – A brilliant point there by Ryan Bradley as he skips past a few challenges before raising a white flag for Donegal.

Donegal 2-3 Mayo 0-2: 20 mins – A trademark Colm McFadden point as he booms over a left-foot shot from distance and Donegal go seven points clear.

That is a sizeable lead Donegal have constructed and Mayo have been left reeling by the concession of those two early goals. It’s going to be a tough task to bridge that gap.

Cillian O’Connor’s attempt to point a free from 50 yards for Mayo goes wide.

Donegal 2-3 Mayo 0-3: 25 mins – Kevin McLoughlin on the mark again for Mayo but that point was all about the great persistence of Michael Conroy in fisting the ball back into play.

Donegal 2-3 Mayo 0-4: 28 mins – The gap is down to five points. Cillian O’Connor notching a point from a free after Enda Varley was fouled. Mayo are starting to warm to the task and have plugged holes in their rearguard.

Donegal 2-3 Mayo 0-5: 31 mins – Mayo continue to make inroads into Donegal’s lead. O’Connor taps over another free, this time after Conroy was fouled when Alan Dillon’s point attempt came back off the post.

Donegal 2-3 Mayo 0-6: 33 mins – That’s a magnificent point by Michael Conroy for Mayo, showing for the ball, cutting in off the left wing and scoring under pressure.

Mayo are working ferociously around the pitch and have managed to quell Donegal.

Donegal 2-4 Mayo 0-6: 36 mins – Big score for Donegal after conceding four points in succession. Colm McFadden supplies the score with a pointed free after Michael Murphy was fouled 45 yards out.

Half-Time: Donegal 2-4 Mayo 0-7: But Mayo hit back on the stroke of half-time when Enda Varley floats over a beautiful point after a pass from Donal Vaughan. Donegal hold the upper hand at the break but considering Mayo did not score in the first quarter and trailed by seven points at one stage, they will be content to be only three points adrift at the interval. The spoils are still up for grabs and we will be back shortly with all the second-half action.

The teams are back out and we’re set for the second-half.

Donegal 2-5 Mayo 0-7: 36 mins – Good start to the second-half for Donegal as McFadden converts a free after Leo McLoone was fouled.

Donegal 2-5 Mayo 0-8: 38 mins – Mayo reply with a point of their own as Cillian O’Connor scores after Enda Varley is fouled.

Donegal 2-6 Mayo 0-8: 39 mins – Patient build-up by Donegal as they transfer possession and the move culminates in an excellent clipped point from the right by Frank McGlynn. Donegal substitution sees David Walsh on for Ryan Bradley.

Barry Moran charges through the middle but his left-foot hooked attempt for a point just drops wide.

A setback for Mayo as Enda Varley misses a scoreable free from the right wing.

And now Michael Conroy hits a wide from play for Mayo, their third shot off target in succession.

Michael Murphy hits a wide after Donegal pounded the Mayo rearguard but were denied space by excellent and tenacious defending.

Donegal 2-7 Mayo 0-8: 48 mins – The gap is back to five points as Michael Murphy slams over a free. Donegal have brought on Martin McElhinney for Patrick McBrearty.

Donegal 2-7 Mayo 0-9: 50 mins – Enda Varley shows great character to convert a free for Mayo from a position where he earlier missed. Alan Freeman replaces Jason Doherty in the Mayo forward line.

Donegal 2-7 Mayo 0-10: 51 mins – The gap is down to three points. Another Mayo pointed free, this time from Cillian O’Connor, after Enda Varley was fouled. Donegal need to start defending with greater discipline.

It’s really tight and tense here with the play on both sides becoming ragged. Donegal have just been awarded a free though about 45 yards out towards the Cusack Stand side. Michael Murphy will kick it.

Donegal 2-8 Mayo 0-10: 55 mins – And the Glenswilly man holds his nerve to strike the ball over the bar to send Donegal four points clear.

A bad wide there by Donegal’s David Walsh as they introduce Christy Toye for Leo McLoone.

Donegal 2-9 Mayo 0-10: 59 mins – Donegal move five points ahead with Michael Murphy curling over a free after McFadden is hauled down. Mayo bring on Jason Gibbons for Michael Conroy with Aidan O’Shea moving in to full-forward.

Another Mayo substitution sees Richie Feeney in for Enda Varley.

Donegal 2-10 Mayo 0-10: 62 mins – It’s looking ominous now for Mayo with Donegal going six points clear after Michael Murphy rises to fist a cross by Rory Kavanagh over the bar. The ball could easily have ended up in the net as David Clarke came to challenge him.

Donegal 2-10 Mayo 0-11: 64 mins – Richie Feeney offers hope for Mayo as he grabs a neat point.

Donegal 2-10 Mayo 0-12: 66 mins – And then Lee Keegan kicks a great point for Mayo to cut the margin to four.

Donegal 2-11 Mayo 0-12: 67 mins – Brilliant team play by Donegal leads to Neil Gallagher pointing.

Donegal 2-11 Mayo 0-13: 69 mins – Fine point from distance by Mayo’s Jason Gibbons. Seamus O’Shea is onto their team for Barry Moran.

Late drama as Mayo have a goal chance but Seamus O’Shea’s close-range shot is blocked. Three minutes of injury time will be played.

It is looking like Donegal’s day. They are bringing on Dermot Molloy for Martin McElhinney.

And that’s it, Donegal have won the All-Ireland senior football final for 2012!

Full-Time: Donegal 2-11 Mayo 0-13: Donegal hold on to become All-Ireland senior football champions for the second time in their history, twenty years after their first victory. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and for all your comments. There are huge scenes of Donegal celebration here in Croke Park after this triumph while Mayo are left devastated after their third defeat in the decider in nine years.

Donegal captain Michael Murphy lifts Sam!