Andrew Woods curls over a lovely leveller for Monaghan.

Micheal Bannigan opens the Monaghan account while Derry kick a second wide already after almost five minutes.

John McGovern
BBC Sport NI at the Athletic Grounds

We’re underway at the Athletic Grounds, with Conor Glass rising highest to claim the throw-in for Derry.

Monaghan manager Gabriel Bannigan had highlighted injury concerns after the win over Cavan, but there’s a boost here with Killian Lavelle and Conor McCarthy both starting.

Paul Cassidy fists over to add another early for Derry.

Lachlan Murray got 1-3 in the quarter-final against Antrim and he gets Derry off to a fast start here in the opening minute.

Referee Noel Mooney throws the ball in and the action begins at the Athletic Grounds.

Who will make it to the decider?

Image source, Inpho

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI at the Athletic Grounds

The teams break from the parade to a decent roar from the crowd that has grown nicely as we approach throw in.

Hard to tell who is in the majority here, but for a 50-50 game, it seems the support is also split down the middle.

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI at the Athletic Grounds

Derry have won the toss and Conor Glass quick to indicate they will play with the breeze for the opening half.

In fairness, it's not a huge advantage, but Derry will seek to make the most of it for the opening 35 minutes.

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI at the Athletic Grounds

Conor Glass wearing the number 11 jersey for Derry today.

We wondered if Ciaran Meenagh was just experimenting when the Glen man was selected in the half-forward line against Antrim, but has gone with it again.

However, will he stay there? Certainly all eyes on where he is stationed after the throw-in.

Image source, Inpho

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI at the Athletic Grounds

It's a big day for Derry and Monaghan who will battle it out at the Athletic Grounds for a place in this year's Ulster Senior Football Championship final.

While the opposite side of the draw has commanded much attention, this semi-final has come in a little under the radar, but presents a huge opportunity for both to book their place in the final on 17 May.

Derry did what they had to do against Antrim in the quarter-final, winning by 13 which could have been much more had they converted even half of their goal opportunities, but enter today in a nice place.

Same for Monaghan who brushed past Cavan a fortnight ago to reach the last four and like Derry, will view today as a massive chance to get back to the final for the first time since 2021.

Image source, Getty Images

Killian Lavelle and Conor McCarthy made their first appearances of the season a fortnight ago against Cavan and both come into the starting line-up.

McCarthy comes into a forward line that combined for 16 points last time out, with each player contributing at least 0-2.

Gary Mohan and Michael Hamil are among those still sidelined as Ryan McAnespie returns to the panel in a late change.

As for Derry, Ciaran Meenagh lines out his team as selected in an unchanged side from the win over Antrim.

He is still unable to call upon Dan Higgins and Matthew Downey through injury, while goalkeeper Odhran Lynch is still working his way back to action.

Derry: Shea McGuckin; Diarmuid Baker, Ruairi Forbes, Conor McCluskey; Conor Doherty, Gareth McKinless, Padraig McGrogan; Eoin McEvoy, Brendan Rogers; Ethan Doherty, Conor Glass, Paul Cassidy; Niall Loughlin, Shane McGuigan, Lachlan Murray.

Subs: Ryan Scullion, Charlie Diamond, Shea Downey, Sean Kearney, Patrick McGurk, Ryan Mulholland, James Murray, Niall O'Donnell, Ruairi O Mianain, Niall Toner, Sean Young.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Killian Lavelle, Ryan O'Toole, Dylan Byrne; Cameron Dowd, Dessie Ward, Aaron Carey; Michael McCarville, Louis Kelly; Karl Gallagher, Michael Bannigan, Stephen O'Hanlon; Conor McCarthy, Andrew Woods, Stephen Mooney.

Subs: Kian Mulligan, Thomas Hughes, Robbie Hanratty, Bobbie McCaul, Ryan Mohan, David Garland, Ryan McAnespie, Darragh McElearney, Oisin McGorman, Jack McCarron, Shane Hanratty.

Image source, BBC Sport

John McGovern
BBC Sport NI at the Athletic Grounds

With throw-in fast approaching, the weather has brightened slightly as the Farney men make their way onto the pitch, despite earlier grey clouds looming over the Athletic Grounds.

The atmosphere is building all the while, with supporters continuing to stream in ahead of this first Ulster semi-final of the weekend.

There’s plenty on the line — Derry are targeting a 20th Ulster final appearance, while Monaghan could reach their 30th with just a second win of the season this evening.

If qualifying for a provincial final isn't reward enough, there is a lot more on the line in this weekend's Ulster and Leinster football semi-finals.

Both Down and Westmeath will enter with high hopes of building on their shock victories over Donegal and Meath respectively, but defeat for either could bring much greater ramifications.

During Monday's Tailteann Cup draw, 'Team 16' was plucked from the hat and given home advantage against Leitrim in the opening round, set for the weekend of 16/17 May.

But who will be said team? By Sunday evening, it will be either Down, Westmeath or perhaps even Cavan, so this is how that particular permutation will work out.

Read the full article here

Image source, Inpho

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI at the Athletic Grounds

It's turned into a decent day in Armagh. The sun isn't quite splitting the stones, but it's warm and the grey clouds that were lurking above have pushed out so we may avoid the heavy rain that was threatened an hour ago.

Certainly a better picture than in Convoy earlier with the minor championship game between Donegal and Down abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch after the heavens opened.

Hello and welcome to the first of this year's Ulster Senior Football Championship semi-finals at the Athletic Grounds between Derry and Monaghan.

A fortnight on from their comprehensive 2-23 to 1-13 quarter-final victory over Antrim, Derry will be expecting a sterner test from the Farneymen, who secured a seven-point win over neighbours Cavan the same weekend.

The last time these teams faced was in the last four of the provincial championship in 2023, with Derry prevailing on their way to eventually clinching the Anglo-Celt Cup.

Will it be a similar case this evening or can Monaghan punch their own ticket to a first decider since 2021?

Let's find out.