John McGeough fires over another Down point just as the hooter goes, with Fermanagh claiming that they should have had a free in midfield moments earlier. Both sides could have had a couple of goals by now but the Mournemen lead by three at half-time.

Fermanagh are profiting from Laverty's black card as Garvan Jones and Josh Largo Ellis fire over scores from play to cut Down's lead to only two. There are three minutes to half-time.

But after struggling for the previous 10 minutes, Fermanagh are given a lifeline as Down skipper Pierce Laverty is black carded for a hand trip. It looked harsh but he's off the field for 10 minutes. Darragh McGurn points the resultant free as Down's lead is reduced to four.

Ronan Burns points a 45 but it could have been worse for Fermanagh with their keeper McNally having pushed a James Guinness shot onto the woodwork before Che Cullen produced a sensational block as Murdock attempting to fire the rebound to the net. But Down are soon five ahead as Danny Magill points.

Down's lead is suddenly three after Odhran Murdock points from play and Ceilum Doherty then fires over when the Mournemen perhaps could have tried to work a goal chance. We've reached the 20th-minute mark.

After Darragh McGurn and Eugene Branagan fire over points from play at either end, the Mournemen then have a glorious goal chance but Daniel Guinness' shot clips the top of the crossbar as the the visitors have to be content with a solitary point.

Ryan Lyons has another goal chance but his shot is directly at Down keeper Burns.

Fermanagh have to make an enforced change with injured forward Paul Breen replaced by Shane McGullion, who was originally named in the Erne County side.

After points from play at either end from Danny Magill and Garvan Jones, late Fermanagh inclusion Conor Love creates a goal chance for himself but Down keeper Ronan Burns makes a great. Fermanagh custodian McNally points the 45 but Eugene Branagan soon gets the Mournemen on with a fine effort from play.

Fermanagh captain Declan McCusker is then a victim of the new rules as he is penalised for ing the ball back to his keeper McNally and Pat Havern points the 13-metre free.

Darragh McGurn kicks a fine Fermanagh point in the opening minute and goalkeeper Sean McNally then slots a 45 after Peter Fegan makes a brilliant block to push out a Garvan Jones goal chance.

However, Down fight back as influential forward Odhran Murdock notches a superb reply from play.

Mayo referee Jerome Henry throws in the ball on what is a horribly wet afternoon at Brewster Park.

In his BBC column this week, Conor McManus said that Ultan Kelm's absence is a "big blow" for Fermanagh and reminded readers that Down could and possibly should have beaten eventual All-Ireland champions Armagh in last year's Ulster semi-final.

"Down played Monaghan in the last round of the league and played very well to win by a point," said the former Monaghan star.

"It's maybe easy to forget that they pushed Armagh all the way in last year's semi-final in Clones only to be denied by Jason Duffy's late winner.

"They're probably better than what their league form suggests. For Down, Saturday could be the chance to lay down a marker and really build on last year's Tailteann Cup win."

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Image source, BBC Sport

Fermanagh have made three late changes with Che Cullen coming in to his brother Lee in the fullback line.

There's two changes among the forwards with Conor McGee and Conor Love replacing Shane McGullion and Sean Cassidy respectively.

Just the one late change for Down with John McGeough replacing Conor McCrickard in the full-forward line.

As expected, Fermanagh are without star forward Ultan Kelm after he suffered a recurrence of the hip injury which has plagued his career.

In spite of that, Kieran Donnelly is able to name an experienced line-up with his key performers including highly-rated goalkeeper Sean McNally, midfielder Joe McDade and full-forward Garvan Jones, who will shoulder much of the attacking responsibility in Kelm's absence.

Down boss Conor Laverty hands Ulster Championship debuts to goalkeeper Ronan Burns and corner-back Patrick McCarthy, although the latter has played in Tailteann Cup games including the 2023 final defeat by Meath at Croke Park.

Otherwise, it's an experienced line-up with Kilcoo men Ceilum Doherty, Miceal Rooney, Ryan McEvoy and Eugene Branagan all given starts by their fellow club-man Laverty.

Burren's Magill brothers Ryan and Danny also start alongside club-mate Odhran Murdock who is likely to be one of Down's key performers this afternoon.

Fermanagh: Sean McNally; Che Cullen, Lee Cullen, Oisin Smyth; Jonny Cassidy, Declan McCusker, Fionan O’Brien; Joe McDade, Darragh McGurn; Conor McGee, Ryan Lyons, Paul Breen; Josh Largo Elis, Garvan Jones, Conor Love

Subs: Ross Bogue, Ché Cullen, Conor Love, Ronan McCaffrey, Aaron Jones, Aogan Kelm, Conor McGee, Oisin Murphy, Brandon Horan, Diarmuid King, Glenn Treacy

Down: Ronan Burns, Patrick McCarthy, Peter Fegan, Ceilum Doherty; Ryan Magill, Pierce Laverty, Miceal Rooney; Daniel Guinness, Ryan McEvoy; Danny Magill, Odhran Murdock, Eugene Branagan; James Guinness, Pat Havern, John McGeough

Subs: John O'Hare, Ruairi McCormack, Aaron McClements, Donal Scullion, Shan Millar, Adam Crimmins, Finn McElroy, Caolan Mooney, Gareth McKibbin, Patrick Brooks, Conor McCrickard

Oisin Smyth says home advantage will be "really important" to Fermanagh as they aim to achieve a first Ulster Football Championship win since 2018 in Saturday's contest against Down.

The Erne County have not won a game in the provincial series since Eoin Donnelly's last-gasp fisted goal earned them a dramatic 1-8 to 0-10 semi-final victory over Monaghan seven years ago.

"The home crowd get behind us [at Brewster Park] and hopefully we'll give it a good rattle on Saturday," said Derrygonnelly club-man Smyth.

"Antrim showed how important it [home advantage] is, whenever you have the crowd behind you and you put it up to teams physically. Those are the basics."

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Image source, Getty Images

Coverage on BBC Two NI and the BBC iPlayer begins at 15:45 BST with former Fermanagh forward Sean Quigley on punditry duty today as he s regulars Conor McManus, Chrissy McKaigue and Philly McMahon.

Philly will be on co-commentary with Thomas Niblock with Mark Sidebottom presenting today's programme and Sarah Mulkerrins our pitchside reporter at Brewster Park.

Brewster Park in Enniskillen is the Ulster Football Championship's latest port of call as Fermanagh aim to end a seven-year losing run in the provincial series by beating Down.

The game is live on the BBC Two NI and the BBC iPlayer but you can also stay across the action here.

It's a meeting between two teams who will face each other in Division Three of the Allianz Football League next year.

A series of narrow defeats saw Conor Laverty's Mournemen relegated to Division Three despite a concluding victory in Clones over the Division Two champions.

Kieran Donnelly's Fermanagh side managed to beat Mickey Harte's promoted Offaly side in Division Three but ultimately missed out on returning straight back to Division Two after suffering relegation in 2024.

Unless, Fermanagh, the only Ulster county never to have won the provincial title, can claim an unlikely progression to the final, it will be the second-tier Tailteann Cup again for them this summer in of their All-Ireland ambitions.

After winning the Tailteann Cup last July, Down will be one of the Sam Maguire Cup hopefuls when the All-Ireland series gets under way next month in spite of their relegation last month.

We look forward to your company today.

Image source, Inpho