Superb block by Peter Teague to deny Darragh McMullen from bulging the net.Brilliant defending!

Callum O'Neill opens the scoring with a free from around the 21-yard line.

Late inclusion, Ethan Jordan, drags his long-distance free wide to the left.

First chance of the game as Darragh Canavan had eyes for the goal when the chance opened up, but was stopped in his tracks.

At the other end, Jarly Og Burns fires wide for Armagh. We have played just over three minutes.

Referee Noel Mooney blows the whistle at the Athletic Grounds and the 2026 Ulster Senior Football Championship is under way.

Niall Grimley
Former Armagh player on BBC Two NI

The atmosphere is unbelievable and there is a real buzz.

Armagh need to start fast in the first 10 minutes; they have been poor in their last few league matches.

John McGovern
BBC Sport NI Contributor at The Athletic Grounds

Only minutes to go until throw-in in the Ulster Championship opener, as the last few stragglers hurry through the turnstiles into a heaving Athletic Grounds. The atmosphere is building nicely in Armagh.

When these sides met in last April’s Ulster semi-final, it produced a thriller — their highest-scoring championship clash — with the Orchard County edging it 0-23 to 0-22.

Form may point one way, but Ulster rarely follows the script. Tyrone’s Red Hands will believe they can upset the odds — can they rise to the occasion once more?

Image source, Getty Images

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI at the Athletic Grounds

It's not the weather you'd traditionally associate with the start of the championship as heavy showers have rolled through Armagh throughout the afternoon, while there is a strong, swirling wind which may make life tricky for the shooters.

Armagh go into this one as heavy favourites and their supporters have turned out in force with orange the dominant colour.

However, this derby has thrown up moments of unforgettable drama down through the years, so write the Red Hands off at your peril.

Armagh make one change to the team named on Thursday with Callum O'Neill coming in for Paddy Burns - the only alteration from the team that started in the drawn league game against Kerry three weeks ago.

There are changes on the Tyrone team and not entirely unexpected with Ethan Jordan replacing Mattie Donnelly in attack.

Malachy O'Rourke also drafts in Ciaran Daly to replace Frank Burns who is not part of the match day 26, with Ciaran Bogue now wearing the number five jersey from the bench.

Armagh: Blaine Hughes; Peter McGrane, Aaron McKay, Callum O'Neill; Ross McQuillan, Gareth Murphy, Jarlath Og Burns; Tiernan Kelly, Ben Crealey; Greg McCabe, Darragh McMullen, Tomas McCormack; Cian McConville, Jason Duffy, Oisin Conaty.

Subs: Ethan Rafferty, Barry McCambridge, Joe McElroy, Ryan Duffy, Paddy Burns, Daniel Magee, Conor Turbitt, Oisin O'Neill, Fergal O'Brien, Rory Grugan, Andrew Murnin.

Tyrone: Niall Morgan; Cormac Quinn, Peter Teague, Niall Devlin; Ciaran Daly, Joey Clarke, Michael McKernan; Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick; Seanie O'Donnell, Ronan Cassidy, Ben McDonnell; Darren McCurry, Ethan Jordan, Darragh Canavan.

Subs: Oisin O'Kane, Michael Rafferty, Aidan Clarke, Ben Cullen, Kieran McGeary, Dalaigh Jones, Aodhan Donaghy, Ciaran Bogue, Lorcan McGarrity, Eoin McElholm, Mattie Donnelly.

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC Sport NI's pundits Conor McManus, Oisin McConville and Philly McMahon give us their predictions for the provincial championships and the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

Get more from the GAA on our dedicated page here

Armagh coach Conleith Gilligan feels his players are "cute enough" not to underestimate Tyrone in Sunday's Ulster Senior Football Championship preliminary round clash at the Athletic Grounds.

The Orchard men go into the game as overwhelming favourites to move into a quarter-final against Fermanagh 13 days later, but Gilligan insists they are not thinking along those lines.

Armagh retained their Division One status in the league while Tyrone did likewise in the second division, but the Red Hands had been tipped to do much more at the outset.

Malachy O'Rourke's side struggled to hit top form, but Gilligan feels Sunday's derby match could well produce a much different Tyrone challenge and it is one Armagh are ready for.

Read more here

Image source, Getty Images

Armagh's Aidan Forker says "it'll not be for want of trying" should he and his Orchard team-mates miss out on adding to their medal collection.

Kieran McGeeney's side secured All-Ireland glory in 2024, but have lost in the last three Ulster finals as the county's wait for a first provincial title since 2008 now enters its 18th year.

Forker captained Armagh two years ago and would love to get his hands on more silverware before he calls it a day.

Naturally, Sam Maguire is the ultimate honour, but ending their wait for Ulster's Angle-Celt Cup would represent another major box ticked should this be their year.

"All 'Geezer' [McGeeney] talks about is winning All-Irelands," said the 33-year-old.

"I'm lucky that he came in when I was quite impressionable at 21 years of age. So that's all I ever set out to do, is win All-Irelands, and more than one hopefully and if you pick up some Ulster titles along the way, it would be amazing.

"Now I'm not trying to dilute that at all, a championship medal is a championship medal. I've spent my whole life chasing them, whether it be club or county or whatever.

"The All-Ireland is obviously the ultimate, but I would be lying if I didn't say I'd like an Ulster medal as well for sure."

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Sportsfile

Donegal turned on the style in the second half to beat Cavan 2-7 to 0-8 in the Division Two final at St Tiernach's Park in Clones.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Cavan started well and racked up a four-point advantage by 22 minutes.

Donegal responded through Katie Dowds, who registered two points to cut the gap to 0-4 to 0-2 at half-time.

Cavan scored an early free to stretch their advantage but, with the wind behind them, Donegal got into their stride and were soon level courtesy of two converted frees from Susanne White and a point from Ciara McGarvey after a fine move.

They then went ahead when Mia Bennett palmed the ball into the net at the second attempt after an initial effort fell short.

Donegal soon opened up a four-point cushion before Dowds fired in a second goal to end Cavan's hopes of a fightback.

What games are live on the BBC?

Five Ulster Championship matches will be live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website with analysis and in-play clips available on the website too.

As well as the preliminary round and two of the quarter finals, BBC Sport will also show one semi-final and the decider.

Sunday 12 April

Preliminary Round: Armagh v Tyrone (16.15 BST) - Live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two NI

Saturday 18th April

Quarter-final: Derry v Antrim (17:00 BST) - Live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two NI

Sunday 19 April

Quarter-final: Monaghan v Cavan (15:00 BST) - Live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two NI

Saturday 25 April

Quarter-final: Fermanagh v Armagh/Tyrone (17:30 BST)

Sunday 26 April

Quarter-final: Donegal v Down (15:00 BST)

Saturday 2 May

Semi-final: Derry/Antrim v Monaghan/Cavan (17:00 BST)

Sunday 3 May

Semi-final: Donegal/Down v Fermanagh/Armagh/Tyrone (16:00 BST) - Live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two NI

Sunday 17 May

Ulster Senior Football Championship final - Live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two NI

Image source, Inpho

Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of today's Ulster Senior Football Championship match between Armagh and Tyrone.

The spotlight shifts from the hush of Augusta to the roar of the Athletic Grounds this afternoon.

After years of near misses, is this the start of Armagh’s journey to finally becoming ‘Masters’ of Ulster football once again?

Or will old foes Tyrone send them off course, leaving the Orchard’s chances in the rough? We will soon find out!

As well as live text commentary today, we will have a stream from the Athletic Grounds.

Thanks for joining us. Enjoy!