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Have the dates been fixed for the round 1A and round 1B fixtures?

A well deserved standing ovation for the Wexford team as they go in at half time.
Down are still in it, but need to up their game to match the home team.
HT Wexford 0-9
Down 1-4

If there is any Dublin based gael looking for a lift to the match in Wexford and back to Dublin, just ping me

Wee James McCartan is quoted in the media that he is preparing without Benny McArdle due to his angle injury.

I think that both Aidan Carr and Ciarán McCartan might start with Conor Garvey in half back line, and Kevin McKiernan as half forward, which would mean that Benny Coulter might have to start on the bench.

Hard to believe that Louth were nine points up against Armagh who then won in Meath tonight so this is a bit of a strange division. Down only needed to be reasonable this evening as Louth were poor and could conceivably have lost by more in the end as it turned into a training exercise

The main pluses for Down were Harrison, who apart from one dodgy kick out followed by a brilliant save, is looking good, Carr who cruised throughout the match and particularly O'Hare who finished with 1-11 and Madine up front. No one had a bad game and Benny came off the bench to get two kicks and two goals.

Tuam is always a tough place to go, but if we get a result there next week we will be very much in the frame for promotion.

Mourne Rover, is it definitely Tuam, and not Salthill?

Down are unchanged from the Armagh game, although James does like the occasional late switch. Louth usually put it up to Down, and O'Rourke will bring a few insights to the process, so it should be a decent match.

1 Shane Harrison
2 Daniel McCartan
3 Brendan McArdle
4 Darren O'Hagan
5 Ryan Boyle
6 Aidan Carr
7 Conor Garvey
8 Peter Turley
9 Ryan Mallon
10 Kevin McKernan
11 Mark Poland
12 Conor Maginn
13 Donal O'Hare
14 Niall Madine
15 Jerome Johnston

hope im wrong, but I'd be worried were the scores are going to come from in that team. mckernan, maginn, Johnston and even madine aren't exactly prolific scorers. O'Hare hasn't scored from play yet and the midfield or defence aren't chipping in with many scores either. down are lacking that marquee forward that seperates the top teams from the rest. v worried about tonights game, don't think it will be the easyish win a lot down fans are thinking.

Scorers for Down: D O'Hare 1-10 (9f), B Coulter 2-0, C Maginn 1-0, N Madine 0-2, K McKernan 0-1, M Poland 0-1, J Johnston 0-1 (f), P Fitzpatrick 0-1

@30mog. How did you get on on Sunday?
Any match reports?

It seems they've got the implementation right, with all possibilities covered, as far as I can see. The umpires can call for Hawkeye if they're unsure, the refeee can call for it if he suspects the umpires' call was wrong and the "Review Official" can notify the referee if Hawkeye disagrees with the umpires' decision, even if play has continued. 

It's all here.

So is the umpire pointless?

Derry (v Down): Eoin McNicholl; Declan Brown, Chrissy McKaigue, Dermot McBride; Charlie Kielt, Mark Lynch (C), Sean Leo McGoldrick; Patsy Bradley, PJ McCloskey; Conor McAtamney, James Kielt, Enda Lynn; Ryan Bell, Eoin Bradley, Lee Kennedy.

Substitutes: Thomas Mallon, Aidan McAlynn, Brian McCallion, Carlus McWilliams, Kevin Johnston, Bliain Gormley, Ciaran McFaul, James Kearney, Emmett McGuckin, Aaron Devlin, Ryan Dougan.

Bell @ 13?  Is the plan to use him as a third midfielder?
Or perhaps an attempt to counteract the double marking of Bradley?

Latest reports are that 4,500 tickets have been sold in Co. Down, so far, and 13,500 sold in Co. Donegal. That can't be correct, can it? 

Was told last night there was 19000 tickets sold overall. And see there is no tickets available online today so would imagine it will be near a full house

I wasn't doubting the total number sold. I was surprised about the disproportionate ratio

Latest reports are that 4,500 tickets have been sold in Co. Down, so far, and 13,500 sold in Co. Donegal. That can't be correct, can it? 

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the O'Hare family, Dromara Gac & gaaboard member Western Exile on the passing of Kevin. Rest in peace

+1

Thank you both.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Photo of Kevin is courtesy of the Down GAA Juvenile Development Squad

Did Clones only become the venue for the Ulster Final when the "troubles " started ?

yes, The Ulster Final was hosted in Clones every year from 1970 until 2004: prior to this, Casement Park was the venue.

[Shay McCartan]

Great news that Donal O'Hare has been declared fit along with Danny Hughes and it looks like Aiden Carr will be capable of playing a part. Gordon, Garvey and McParland are reported as our only absentees. None have really played all season so we are not shocked by their absence. But it would have been really useful to have had big Dan.

If we progress through the summer would Dan become available. A broken foot should heal fully in three months shouldn't it, and he did it nearly a month ago. So isn't possible Dan would be back by the round 4 qualifier?

Also does anyone know if Shay McCartan has joined the squad?

Isn't that the fella that was released by Burnely?, has he played much club football since he came back?

Outstanding underage talent. And i assume he has been training all year with whatever team he was loaned out to.
Maybe the lad wants a break from football after the dissapointment of not making the big time. But would be a great addition to a Down forward line. Has a great eye for goal.

That sums up Down football, year after year, decade after decade.
I long for the next Paddy Kennedy

Strange feeling knowing that whoever wins could well take a tanking in the next round

I really hope the Donegal team don't buy into this attitude!  Because I'm sure the bandwagon brigade will be filling their ears with the same shite. I think we'll beat the winner, mostly because of McGuinness's skills, but Donegal still have to pay Derry/Down the proper respect and prepare accordingly. Too many teams have been caught out too many times in the past especially in Ulster. I'll never forget the tanking Monaghan gave us in '95 after we strolled past AI champs Down. (Sunday was not the first time supporters were singing "cheerio" in Ballybofey!). Or Armagh 2004 after we beat Tyrone. Or Tyrone 2007 after we beat Armagh.

I agree with most of that, J70.

I would not be as pessimistic as some, and I don't think any of the players would be either.  This is a great opportunity for both teams. The winner will get a chance to test themselves against the reigning AI champions and the form team of the moment.  It should be about ambition. Which teams wants the most from this year? Any team that has sights on a long summer should be excited about facing up to the best at some stage.  Both Derry and Down might yet have a long summer regardless of the result of this game or the semi-final.