Live GAA updates: Donegal leading Meath in All-Ireland semi-final

Fixtures:

HT - Meath 0-8 Donegal 0-13

FT - New York 0-20 London 2-13 (All-Ireland JFC Final)

37 Mins: Conor O’Donnell gets the first score of the second half for Donegal, after great work by Shane O’Donnell. Meath 0-9 Donegal 0-14

35 Mins: Keith Curtis opens the second half with his third point. Meath 0-9 Donegal 0-13

A full house has been announced in Croke Park. It’s a sea of gold and green we’ll see again in two weeks, but will it be Donegal who see it out to join Kerry in the All-Ireland final?

Here’s Malachy Clerkin’s thoughts on the first half:

Half-time: Donegal are five points ahead with the wind to come - it’s very hard to see a way back here for Meath. The underdogs needed to take full advantage of the breeze in that opening half and they have wasted it. They have made eight attempts at kicking two-pointers and only landed two of them. Donegal haven’t been overly efficient either - they kicked seven wides in that first half - but they are getting their scores a lot more easily. Michael Langan is having a huge effect on the game around the middle, dominating kick-outs form both goalkeepers. It will be an enormous shock if Donegal don’t see this out.

Half-time: Meath 0-8 Donegal 0-13

34 Mins: Huge missed chance by Murphy, but it’s over the bar! The goal was gaping for the Donegal full-forward. They’re all over these kickouts, Meath can’t win a break at all. Meath 0-8 Donegal 0-13

33 Mins: Great score by Morris on his left foot from just inside the arc. Then Gallen responds with a simple point. Meath 0-8 Donegal 0-12

32 Mins: Keith Curtis pops a nice strike over for Meath. Then an amazing save! Billy Hogan stops McFadden from next to no distance to keep Meath in it. Meath 0-7 Donegal 0-11

31 Mins: Big save by Donal Keogan, who was behind his ‘keeper. Conor O’Donnell’s effort is stopped. Meath 0-6 Donegal 0-11

29 Mins: Ciarán Thompson hits a shot rather tamely from in close, and it nearly creeps into the net. It hits the bar an bounces over instead. Meath 0-6 Donegal 0-11

28 Mins: First point of the day for Oisín Gallen. Donegal winning every Hogan kickout with Menton gone. Meath 0-6 Donegal 0-10

26 Mins: Another effort by Costello that drops short. Shane O’Donnell then sends a ball about 20 yards wide under no pressure at the top of the D. Hogan can’t get his kickouts off though, and Gallen wins an easy free that Murphy puts over. Meath 0-6 Donegal 0-9

23 Mins: Wild miss from Ciarán Thompson under pressure. Donegal win Billy Hogan’s kickout and build up slowly again. More pressure on the kick forces Oisín Gallen’s effort wide. But they win the next kick, and Langan scores. Meath 0-6 Donegal 0-8

21 Mins: Frayne hits another two-pointer wide. They’re doing very well on Donegal’s kickouts though. It’s not worth much though, as Donal Keogan puts another effort wide. Meath 0-6 Donegal 0-7

20 Mins: Donegal got a massive turnover, raced up the other end, but then somehow made a mess of what seemed to be a four-on-one with Seán Rafferty. Bryan Menton is off injured after that, with the goalscorer from the Galway quarter-final Conor Gray coming on. Meath 0-6 Donegal 0-7

18 Mins: Ryan McHugh goes for a two-pointer but puts it wide. Meath go up the other end, and Morris also puts a tw-pointer wide. They’re not even hitting them from the line, they’re taking these shots from miles out. Meath 0-6 Donegal 0-7

15 Mins: There’s a wind behind Meath, and they really are putting a lot of faith in it. Frayne is the latest to misfire for a two-pointer. Shane O’Donnell finally shoots Donegal’s first wide of the game. Meath 0-6 Donegal 0-7

13 Mins: Donegal are so efficient up front, another score, this one from Langan. Costello misses a shot from a tight angle for Meath. They win another Patton kickout though, and Keith Curtis gets his first of the day. Meath 0-6 Donegal 0-7

11 Mins: This time it’s McHugh who points it, another for Donegal. Kinsella breaks their momentum with a two-pointer at the Canal End. Meath 0-5 Donegal 0-6

10 Mins: Another wide by Meath, four now. This time it’s Costello from outside the two-point line. They nearly turn over Murphy, but Donegal recycle and Shane O’Donnell floats it over. Meath 0-3 Donegal 0-5

8 Mins: Matthew Costello gives away a cheap free outside the arc, and Murphy puts it over. Meath 0-3 Donegal 0-4

7 Mins: Meath turnover Donegal, but Morris is too keen for a goal and his pass is overplayed. Then they win another turnover, but Duke fires wide from the arc. Rafferty got some late dunt from Murphy there. Meath 0-3 Donegal 0-2

5 Mins: Donegal patiently play with the Meath defence before Conor O’Donnell gets their second. At the other end, Meath captain Eoghan Frayne slams over a super two-pointer. Meath 0-3 Donegal 0-2

3 Mins: Meath a little ponderous, but then they win the Patton kickout. Kinsella pops it over for their first of the afternoon. Meath 0-1 Donegal 0-1

1 Mins: And we’re off! Menton wins the throw-in, but Seán Coffey puts it wide in Meath’s first attack. From the kickout, Michael Murphy gets the game’s opening point. He had a lot of space there. Meath 0-0 Donegal 0-1

The teams are off on the parade now. Not long to go!

Malachy O’Rourke is in Croker for the semi-final and here’s his thoughts before throw-in:

It’s a blustery day in Croke Park, which will be a merciful relief for the players. By the look of the flags behind the Artane Band, the wind is blowing directly down from the Hill into the Canal End so it will be interesting to see who wins the toss and what use they make of it. There are no changes to either team, with just one swap on the Meath subs bench. Michael Murphy – no, not that one – comes in at number 26 in place of Cathal Hickey. The stadium is buzzing – it will come very close to a capacity crowd.

No changes for either side from the teams named midweek. There’s the first surprise of the day.

Robbie Brennan is in great form before his side’s semi-final.

Robbie Brennan is hoping Meath can continue their dream summer against Donegal. Follow the build-up👇.

📺 https://t.co/sMdAy2CSbE…

📻 https://t.co/wkh41D4bF8

💻 https://t.co/EzEzFBnzHS pic.twitter.com/EEueqHvELw — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 13, 2025

Meath have made no changes to their named team for the semi-final.

We have an unchanged starting XV and one change on the replacements bench.

Michael Murphy from @DunboyneGAA replaces Cathal Hickey among the replacements.@BectiveStud #MeathGAA #BectiveStud pic.twitter.com/nw3xpgKTOW — Meath GAA (@MeathGAA) July 13, 2025

Meath will be relying on their star corner-forward Jordan Morris again today. He scored 1-6 in their quarter-final victory over Galway, despite having to play with major injury risks.

[Meath’s Jordan Morris playing through major injury risks ahead of semi-final against Donegal]

Here’s Seán Moran’s previews of the semi-finals. He was right to plump for Kerry in yesterday’s game; will he be right again?

[All-Ireland SFC semi-finals previews: Tyrone need to produce more to threaten Kerry]

We will have updates on any changes before throw-in, but, as it stands, the starting lineups for today’s All-Ireland semi-final are as follows:

Meath: B. Hogan, S. Lavin, S. Rafferty, R. Ryan, D. Keogan, S. Coffey, C. Caulfield, B. Menton, A. O’Neill, C. Duke, R. Kinsella, K. Curtis, J. Morris, M. Costello, E. Frayne

Donegal: S. Patton, F. Roarty, B. McCole, P. Mogan, R. McHugh, E. Bán Gallagher, C. McColgan, H. McFadden, M. Langan, S. O’Donnell, C. Thompson, C. Moore, C. O’Donnell, M. Murphy, O. Gallen

There’s a few green and gold jerseys starting to fill up the stands, just in time to hear Frank Sinatra ring around Croke Park for New York’s win. Our attention now turns to Meath vs Donegal (throw-in 4pm).

Full-time: New York 0-21 London 2-13

New York are the All-Ireland Junior Football champions for 2025.

54 Mins: Things have gotten very tense, with only a few minutes left in the All-Ireland Junior Final. No score in the last nine minutes for either side, before New York finally get another point. New York 0-18 London 2-10

45 Mins: A goal from Conor Redican and a two-pointer from Noel Maher have London back in it, but New York are still a point ahead. New York 0-17 London 2-10

31 Mins: The All-Ireland Junior Football Final is back underway in Croke Park, and New York open the half with a beauty of a two-pointer. New York 0-14 London 1-7

Earlier in the week, former Donegal player Kevin Cassidy pointed out how similar this season feels to 2012 for his county. In both stints, Jim McGuinness’ first season ended in defeat in the semi-finals. Now he has a chance to make his second season an All-Ireland winning one again.

[Kevin Cassidy says it’s like 2012 all over again for Donegal ahead of semi-final with underdogs Meath]

Half-time: New York 0-12 London 1-7

Garvin Lee with a great score for New York to end the half.

21 Mins: New York now have the stronger foothold in the junior final in Croke Park, with two-pointers helping them build a lead. New York 0-10 London 1-3

David Clifford’s tally of 1-9 in yesterday’s semi-final was an unbelievable tally, and Kerry’s reliance on himself and Sean O’Shea has done them no harm this year. Here’s a breakdown of who each semi-finalist relies on for scores, and the consistency of team selection from each side. The latter explains why Donegal have looked so strong this year.

[David Clifford and Seán O’Shea carrying big scoring burden for Kerry]

This is the biggest match that any of these Meath players will have played in so far in their careers. Gordon Manning’s profile piece goes through the squad that will line out in Croker this afternoon.

[Meet the Meath footballers who have taken the championship by storm]

6 Mins: The All-Ireland junior final is underway in Croke Park, with London taking an early lead. An early goal has them four points to the good, although New York made a big chance of their own right after. New York 0-1 London 1-1

Irish Times columnist Darragh Ó Sé was right in his prediction that Kerry would have too much for Tyrone yesterday. He sees today’s semi-final playing out similarly, with Donegal big favourites for this afternoon’s match.

[Darragh Ó Sé: Kerry and Donegal have shown a different gear and should be too strong for Tyrone and Meath]

It’s been a mad summer for Meath, the surprise package of the football championship. Losing the Leinster Final was a big blow, but they’ve beaten Dublin, Kerry and Galway on the way to their first All-Ireland semi-final since 2009. Malachy Clerkin describes how new manager Robbie Brennan has changed the Royals’ fortunes.

[Vibes and victories: how Robbie Brennan put smiles on Meath faces]

Hello and welcome to live coverage of today’s championship football in Croke Park. In today’s main event, Donegal take on Meath (4pm), with a place in the All-Ireland final against Kerry at stake. Donegal come into the match as favourites, but Meath have already beaten the odds to get here.

Before that, London play New York in the All-Ireland Junior Final. Stay with us for updates throughout the afternoon.

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