I often compare refereeing to playing.

Not all defeats taste the same.

Tyrone's Sean Cavanagh was left ruing the scoring blitz by Mayo at the start of the second half which turned today's All-Ireland SFC semi-final in their favour.

ALL-IRELAND SFC SEMI-FINAL:

Defender Ryan McKenna and forward Connor McAliskey has been brought into the Tyrone team for Sunday's All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Mayo at Croke Park (throw-in 3.30pm).

Dermot Carlin has been rewarded with a starting spot in the Tyrone team to take on Ulster champions Monaghan in Saturday's opening All-Ireland SFC quarter-final at Croke Park (throw-in 5pm).

Kildare and Tyrone have both made significant changes at full-forward for their All-Ireland SFC third round qualifier encounter in Newbridge tomorrow night (throw-in 7pm).

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has handed three players their first Championship starts as they face Offaly for the first time in the All-Ireland Championship tomorrow in Tullamore (throw-in 3pm).

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte will give debuts to three players in tomorrow’s All-Ireland SFC qualifier clash with Offaly in O’Connor Park in Tullamore (3pm).

Injury plagued Tyrone forward Stephen O’Neill’s latest setback has been described as “criminal” by boss Mickey Harte.

They may be down right now but Mickey Harte insists Tyrone aren’t out and has guaranteed that they will recover to reach the championship’s last eight.

Donegal 2-10 Tyrone 0-10

Columnist, Ray Silke, identifies the three key areas which saw Donegal emerge victorious in Sunday's Ulster clash of the titans.

ULSTER SFC QUARTER-FINAL:

Donegal are poised to field the team that won the All-Ireland SFC title for them eight months ago when they get their 2013 Championship campaign underway against Tyrone on Sunday afternoon.

Champions Donegal will begin their defence of the Ulster SFC against Tyrone at Ballybofey on Sunday (4pm) with the same 15 players who started last September’s All-Ireland final win over Mayo.

Tyrone attacker Ronan O’Neill has been ruled out of Sunday’s Ulster Championship clash with Donegal.

Tyrone 2-15 Kildare 2-11

Managers Mickey Harte and Kieran McGeeney have selected their teams for Saturday's crunch Allianz League Division 1 semi-final between Tyrone and Kildare at Croke Park (throw-in 2pm).

If you asked 100 Tyrone supporters to name their first choice team for this year’s championship match against Donegal, you’re likely to get 100 very different answers back.

Mickey Harte last night heralded a new era for Tyrone football, confirming a major overhaul of his squad and the departure of 11 established players.

Dermot Carlin is hoping he has finally nailed down a place in the Tyrone team, after almost a decade of trying.

In the second last minute of normal time and with Tyrone trailing by four points, it was Stephen O’Neill who took receipt of a hand-pass from Pascal McConnell in his own full-back line.

Donegal 0-12 Tyrone 0-10

Tyrone have been hit with a double injury blow ahead of their Ulster SFC semi-final with holders Donegal as Dermot Carlin and Mickey Murphy battle to fit.

This was the game the Ulster Championship had been waiting for, and who better to deliver it than these fiercest of rivals.

Tyrone 0-19 Armagh 1-13

Ronan McNabb has shrugged off a hamstring injury to be included in the Tyrone team for Sunday's Ulster SFC quarter-final against Armagh.

Cork boss Conor Counihan has kept faith with the side that claimed the honours in last month’s league final against Mayo for their 2012 championship opener against Kerry in Sunday’s Munster SFC semi-final.

Tyrone blew neighbours Derry away at Healy Park to step up their bid for promotion.

Alan Quirke is back between the posts for Cork who take on Down in this weekend’s Allianz Football League, at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.

Tyrone’s foundations for a serious push for promotion at the second attempt have been solidly laid.

Tyrone 1-14 Derry 2-8

Cork boss Conor Counihan has made six changes for next Sunday’s McGrath Cup final against Tipperary in Clonmel from the side that overturned CIT in last weekend’s semi-final.

Former All-Star Owen Mulligan will start for Tyrone in tomorrow's All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Dublin at Croke Park (throw-in 7pm).

Mickey Harte has selected an unchanged Tyrone team for Saturday's All-Ireland SFC fourth round qualifier against Roscommon at Croke Park (throw-in 4pm).

LIMERICK senior hurling manager Donal O’Grady has made two changes in personnel from the team that started against Antrim for Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against Dublin at Semple Stadium.

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has made four changes to his side for Saturday's All-Ireland SFC third round qualifier against Armagh in Omagh (throw-in 7pm).

THEIR critics smelled blood when Tyrone were tasked with last Saturday’s trip to Pearse Park but Mickey Harte’s side impressed in a cut and thrust encounter against a game Longford side to resuscitate their All-Ireland ambitions.

MONAGHAN boss Eamonn McEneaney is looking forward to the All-Ireland Qualifiers with a confidence that his young side can develop and mature along the way, and possibly enjoy an extended run this summer.

SEAN KIELY and James Fitzpatrick are set to make their first competitive starts for the Cork senior footballers in Sunday’s Allianz Football League Division 1 trip to Castlebar to face Mayo.

CONOR COUNIHAN has named an unchanged side from the team that beat Monaghan a fortnight ago for Cork’s Allianz NFL Division 1 game tomorrow night against Down.