LIVEAs it happened: Donegal hammer Meath in All-Ireland SFC semi-final
Oisín Gallen of Donegal celebrates scoring his side's first goal. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Meath manager Robbie Brennan: "The first half, we created the chances but we missed a hell of a lot. We needed a big lead coming into the second half."
On 2025: "The trajectory is good. Hopefully we've reawakened some interest in the county."
You can read John Fogarty's on the whistle match report here.
Donegal captain Paddy McBrearty: "We're absolutely delighted in there. It's been a long road back for this team."
On Donegal's young players: "They are serious athletes. They are asking Jim the right questions. Donegal football is in a good position we these lads around."
Jim McGuinness: "We trained well. The last couple of weeks have been great." The Donegal manager points on that in a two-week break, you can fit in five training sessions versus one when it's a one-week break.
Peter Canavan points out that Hugh McFadden was ushering his Donegal teammates off the pitch immediately after the game. No time for celebrations. They've already moved on to thinking about Kerry.
Lee Keegan on Finnbarr Roarty: "I've never seen a 19, 20-year-old so comfortable on the big stage."
Donegal's 19-year-old Finnbarr Roarty is RTÉ's man of the match. "It's a class feeling. We were working to this from the start of the year. We had one goal. It's been a class season and I've learned too much."
Peter Canavan says on RTÉ that we've got the two best teams in the final, and believes it will go down to the wire between the counties.
The hooter goes and the ball is kicked out. Donegal win and will play Kerry in the All-Ireland football final. For the first time since they lost to the Kingdom in 2014, Donegal have reached the decider.
Michael Langan has another for Donegal, his fourth of the game.
Michael Langan knocks over his third of the game for Donegal. At the other end for Meath, Seán Rafferty gets one back, their first score in 12 minutes. Meath 0-14 Donegal 3-24.
Ciarán Moore adds a point for Donegal. He's got 1-1. Peadar Mogan goes off and Ódhran McFadden Ferry is on for Donegal. Meath 0-13 Donegal 3-22
Goal for Donegal! Conor O'Donnell this time. It's a training match for Donegal now. Selflessness on display as they find the man in the best position. Easy finish for O'Donnell but it was made so by superb vision and execution of a pass from Oisín Gallen. Meath 0-13 Donegal 3-21
Another for Paddy McBrearty. His third in 12 minutes. Meath 0-13 Donegal 2-21
Paddy McBrearty continues to make his case for a start in what appears to be a likely final against Kerry. He gets his second point since coming on 10 minutes ago. Conor O'Donnell adds another for Donegal, his third of the game. Meath 0-13 Donegal 2-20
Eoghan Frayne dummies, steps into space and knocks over his fourth of the game for Meath but then Peadar Mogan gets forward for Donegal and extends their lead to 11 again. Meath 0-13 Donegal 2-18
Conor Duke gets his first of the game. Caloan McGonagle steps off the Donegal bench to Caolan McColgan. Meath 0-11 Donegal 2-17
Shaun Patton kicks a 45 for Donegal. They're displaying strength off the bench now with Jason McGee replacing Hugh McFadden. Meath 0-11 Donegal 2-17.
Double score game now and Donegal are having fun. Ciarán Thompson almost scores a third goal. John Fogarty
: Goal for Donegal! Ciarán Moore this time. It all started with a turnover by Finbarr Roarty in the Donegal defence before they galloped forward as a team. Meath 0-11 Donegal 2-16
Paddy McBrearty gets off the mark immediately with a long range one-pointer. Meath 0-11 Donegal 1-16
Matthew Costello knocks over a free for Meath. There's also a change for the Royals with Eoin Harkin replacing Adam O'Neill. Meath 0-11 Donegal 1-15
Michael Murphy comes off in the 45th minute, replaced by Paddy McBrearty, and the stadium is murmuring. John Fogarty
Michael Murphy adds another point for Donegal. They have sprinted away from Meath. Meath 0-10 Donegal 1-15
Goal Donegal! Sensational finish from Oisín Gallen after a long kick-out by Shaun Patton and then a flick on. Meath 0-10 Donegal 1-14
Poor wide by Conor O'Donnell as he looked certain to get his third point of the game but the balls skews wide right off his boot. At the other end, Eoghan Frayne gets one back for Meath. Meath 0-10 Donegal 0-14.
Conor O'Donnell gets Donegal's first score of the second half after plenty of patience from Jim McGuinness's side. Meath 0-9 Donegal 0-14.
The length of Shaun Patton's opening kick-out was quite extraordinary. Felt like a test kick.
The second half is underway. Keith Curtis immediately gets Meath on the board. Meath 0-9 Donegal 0-13.
There are 82,000 in attendance at Croke Park today. That's 19,566 more than were there on Saturday when four teams were playing.
PJ Browne - again with insights from John Fogarty - will talk you through the second 35.
Murphy gets a sniff at goal late on in first-half proceedings, but takes his point to put five - and his fifth - between the sides at half-time. McGuinness and Donegal in the driving seat.
Meath dangerman Jordan Morris gets his first, but Donegal's Gallen responds at the other end.
A first score for Meath in 17 minutes. Good work from Mathew Costello before Curtis puts over his second. They won't have to look too far for where they went wrong in this half - shot-taking. Billy Hogan then pulls of a great save from Hugh McFadden.
Make that five. Ciaran Thompson's shot clips the crossbar and hops over. 15 mins without a Meath score now.
Meath in a bit of bother with their kick-out. Oisin Gallen opens his account for the day. Four between the sides now.
Murphy arrests a mini burst of Donegal wides. Meath haven't scored for some time now. That's 0-4 for Murphy.
Up to Langan's score there, we hadn't a score for over 10 minutes and seven wides in the meantime.
Blow for Meath. Veteran midfielder Bryan Menton is forced off with injury. Conor Gray is in. Another Meath soldier, Donal Keoghan misses from distance. That's now eight wides for Brennan's men.
A couple of Donegal wides after some flawless kicking. They have made a couple of elementary mistakes too but the blowy conditions are affecting both sides. Meath have only converted four of 10 scoring chances.
Meath's Frayne has a go from way out, but it drops into Patton's hands, however. Shane O'Donnell misses at the other end.
Keith Curtis in on the board, one between them now. Fascinating contest already. The third Meath forward to score.
Royals centre-forward Ruairi Kinsella finds his range once more, outside the arc. Super score, but Michael Langan continues Donegal's ruthlessness in front of goal.
Donegal starting to get joy. Ryan McHugh get in on the act. Donegal three ahead. 0-6 to 0-3.
Shane O'Donnell - impressive all year - slots over his first, that's three of Donegal's key forwards on the scoresheet already.
Michael Murphy kicks his second score, this time a two-point free off the deck. Never in doubt for the Donegal talisman.
Conor Duke's attempt at a long-range points goes wide, Meath's third miss.
Conor O'Donnell puts Donegal back in front but Meath captain Eoghan Freyne - with a two-pointer - find the necessary reply.
Adam O'Neill wins the Shaun Patton kick-out and the ball is worked into Ruairi Kinsella who opens his - and Meath's - account.
A turn-up for the books as Seamus Lavin takes up Michael Murphy. Seán Rafferty marking Oisin Gallen. John Fogarty
That man Michael Murphy swings over into Hill 16 to open the scoring for Donegal.
Faloon throws the ball in and we're away.
Donegal break from the parade early and Meath quickly follow suit.
Jim McGuinness goes over to shake Paul Faloon's hand before the start. McGuinness had been critical of Faloon's performance in Donegal's win over Mayo.
Donegal win the toss and Paddy McBrearty points to the Hill as if they will play towards that goal. Wind is stronger than yesterday and blowing in from the Hill.
Team new from John Fogarty at HQ: No changes to either the Donegal or Meath team. The Dunboyne Michael Murphy a late replacement for Cathal Hickey on the Meath bench.
Kevin Cassidy acknowledged that Meath could easily upset Donegal's plans, but he gets a sense that history is repeating itself with Jim McGuinness and Donegal.
So where will this match be won and lost?
Maurice Brosnan picks out the three key matchups that will go a long way in deciding who earns the right to take on Jack O'Connor's Kerry for Sam Maguire.
Meath boss Robbie Brennan's approach in the Royal County has been a simple one - let the players express themselves. Read here how Brennan's slick man-management awakened the Meath sleeping giant.
Settle in folks, the second All-Ireland SFC semi-final is almost upon us. Donegal take on 2025 surprise package Meath for a place in the All-Ireland final. Shane Donovan - with input from our man at the venue, John Fogarty - will talk you through the first half action at Croke Park.
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