Mayo have the opening goal!

Kobe McDonald is again at the heart of the move, producing a clever flick into the path of Ryan O'Donoghue, who calmly guides his finish beyond Niall McDonnell.

Andy Moran's side lead by two after five minutes.

Mayo break at pace through Kobe McDonald, who feeds Darragh Beirne bursting through the middle.

But Niall McDonnell is there again with a crucial block to deny the equaliser.

Louth strike first.

Dara McDonnell finishes off a swift counter-attack to open the scoring after three minutes at Croke Park.

Louth look to build patiently from the back, but Emmett Carolan's misplaced pass gifts possession back to Mayo.

Jack Carney then clips a ball into the square, but Niall McDonnell reads it well and gathers safely.

Mayo win the throw-in and settle quickly into attack.

Jack Carney is the first to have a go, but his effort from the left drifts wide for the opening miss of the game.

We're under way in the first All-Ireland semi-final of the weekend as Mayo and Louth battle for a place in the Sam Maguire decider.

Meath referee David Coldrick gets proceedings started at Croke Park, with the winners earning a return to the stadium for the All-Ireland final on 26 July.

Philly McMahon
Eight-time All-Ireland winner with Dublin on BBC Sport

Kobe McDonald is one of those top players that nothing fazes him. He tries things even when they don't come off, he'll keep doing that and that's what the top players do.

He is going to have the space today and a team that plays a fast transition. It is going to be exciting to watch him.

BBC Sport NI's Faith Harper takes a look at Mayo's teenage sensation Kobe McDonald.

Despite missing out on Monaghan's quarter-final defeat by Louth due to injury, Rory Beggan got a full insight into what makes Gavin Devlin's side tick and believes that size and defensive strength could be decisive.

"Getting a sideline view of them the last day, they are so well set up defensively and that will cause problems for Mayo in terms of getting Kobe McDonald into the game," he said.

"I think they will have [Donal] McKenny on [Ryan] O'Donoghue which is a good match-up, but they are so well set up and playing the last day with 14 men and keeping us out to win the game shows they have the fitness levels to compete for the full 70.

"I could be wrong and it turns into the O'Donoghue and Kobe show, but the Louth defence and their size around the middle of the field [could be the difference]."

Image source, Getty Images

Louth make one change from the side that reached the All-Ireland semi-finals.

Sean Callaghan misses out through suspension following his red card against Monaghan, while Gavin Devlin otherwise sticks with the side chasing a first All-Ireland final since 1957.

They are also forced into a late alteration as Ciaran Keenan comes in for Paul Mathews, who drops out of the panel.

Sean Callaghan misses out through suspension following his red card against Monaghan, while Gavin Devlin otherwise sticks with the side chasing a first All-Ireland final since 1957.

Mayo, meanwhile, are aiming to reach the decider for the first time since 2021 and manager Andy Moran sticks with the team that defeated Cork in the last eight.

That means Paul Towey retains his place in attack despite Conor Loftus initially named to start at centre-forward.

Mayo: Jack Livingstone; Jack Coyne, Donnacha McHugh, Eoin McGreal; Sam Callinan, David McBrien, Enda Hession; Bob Tuohy, Jack Carney; Stephen Coen, Paul Towey, Jordan Flynn; Darragh Beirne, Ryan O'Donoghue, Kobe McDonald.

Subs: Rob Hennelly, Fenton Kelly, Paddy Durcan, Rory Brickenden, Conal Dawson, Aidan O'Shea, Matthew Ruane, Conor Loftus, Diarmuid O'Connor, Tommy Conroy, Cian McHale.

Louth: Niall McDonnell; Emmet Carolan, Donal McKenny, Daire Nally; Conall McKeever, Dara McDonnell, Craig Lennon; Conor Early, Ciaran Keenan; James Maguire, Sam Mulroy, Conor Grimes; Kieran McArdle, Ciaran Downey, Ryan Burns.

Subs: Tiarnan Markey, Conor Branigan, Ciaran Byrne, Tommy Durnin, Leonard Gray, Ciaran Keenan, Conall McCaul, Tadhg McDonnell, Sean Reynolds, Padraic Tinnelly, Anthony Williams.

Image source, BBC Sport

While excitement in Louth is building, the experience gained over the last number of years, including their 2025 Leinster final win over Meath, will ensure the occasion will not become a burden and Saturday represents "the next step of their progression".

With big wins over Armagh and Dublin already banked in this year's championship, Rory Beggan feels "confidence will be flowing" in the Louth camp.

Drawing Mayo in the last four rather than Kerry or a third meeting of the year against Dublin will left Louth "rubbing their hands" in Beggan's opinion, but that can also be said for Andy Moran's men

"Usually the hype train in Mayo is starting to take over around now, but that doesn't seem to be the case this year," Beggan observes.

"The Kobe effect is massive and he gives them a ball-winning option out the pitch and he can break lines which is taking the heat off Ryan O'Donoghue. Tommy Conroy is also coming into form along with other key players and the trust in youth has been great.

"As much as Andy wouldn't admit it, getting to an All-Ireland semi-final would be seen as a very good start to his time as manager, but then if he was told earlier in the year they'd be playing Louth in an All-Ireland semi-final, he'd be annoyed if they lost it, but it's a good starting point to his time as manager."

Image source, Getty Images

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI at Croke Park

Wicklow players took time to salute their fans around Croke Park, but the teams are out now for this evening's All-Ireland semi-final.

A first championship meeting between the pair and just third overall. The score reads 2-0 to Mayo in past championship clashes, so will it be third time lucky for Louth?

This game feels like a coin flip, one where the thinnest of margins may decide it.

Both may have exceeded expectations somewhat but neither will view this semi-final as bonus territory, but instead a huge opportunity.

Oisin McConville predicts Louth "are here to stay" as the Wee County gets set for their first All-Ireland semi-final since 1957 when they face Mayo at Croke Park on Saturday [18:00 BST].

The 2002 All-Ireland winner with Armagh has been impressed with the rise of his neighbouring county in recent years and feels they are now reaping the rewards of the work put in from the ground up.

Just five years ago, Louth were beaten by Antrim in a Division Four clash in a Covid-disrupted 2021 that saw both counties ultimately promoted.

The following year, Louth's win over the Saffrons was instrumental in sending them to Division Two where they have remained and coincided with a huge upswing in championship form that also saw them collect the Leinster title last year.

McConville has noticed the gradual gains made by Louth and insists their status as All-Ireland semi-finals is part of a trend.

"In Darver, they have one of the most state of the art training facilities, they have serious development and a conveyor belt of players coming through," the current Wicklow manager told BBC Sport NI.

Read the full article here.

Image source, Getty Images

After Wicklow's remarkable Tailteann Cup triumph, attention now turns to the first of this year's All-Ireland semi-finals at Croke Park.

Just 70 minutes separate Mayo or Louth from a place in the Sam Maguire decider. Mayo are bidding to reach their first All-Ireland final since 2021, while Louth are chasing a first appearance in the showpiece since 1957.

The winners will return to Croke Park later this month to face either Dublin or Kerry in the All-Ireland final.

Wicklow manager Oisin McConville speaking to BBC Sport NI: "We just didn't turn up, too nervous and the occasion definitely got to us in the first half. I suppose, we didn't want to be 13 points down, but we knew we would probably be chasing the game and when we were chasing the game, we had the elements and all the momentum and more importantly, players that could finish.

"I know people will say we had a big comeback, scraped over the line and had great heart but we had enough chances to win two games there. The heart and desire of the boys is unbelievable but they have some ability too."

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI at Croke Park

Sensational stuff from Wicklow in that second period. They were 13 back and looking like a beaten side, but they have fought back from the brink earlier in this competition and have done it agaain.

Against Antrim in the quarter-final, they looked dead and buried but stormed to the line and they've just done it to Down.

What a win for the Garden County.

Wicklow captain Dean Healy speaking on RTE:

"I am lost for words.

"Down, you are the standard bearers, and I have no doubt you are going to be pushing for promotion in Division 2 next year.

"We knew we would have to be at our best to beat you and I have no doubt our paths will cross again."

Lee Keegan
Former Mayo player on RTE

That was as inspirational as you will see from Wicklow.

They are such remarkable champions. Look at the celebrations and how much it means to them. I can't get over how impressive that performance was in the second half.

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Peter Canavan
Former Tyrone captain on RTE Sport

What a remarkable comeback.

What a response from them in the second half and they thoroughly deserved to win it in the end.