All-Ireland Senior Champions Donegal played a team comprising players from the rest of Ulster in an event intended to raise funds for The Michaela Foundation.

[5] The game took place ahead of a planned redevelopment of Casement Park.

[2] Donegal manager Jim McGuinness named a squad featuring six All Stars—Paul Durcan, Frank McGlynn, Karl Lacey, Neil Gallagher, Mark McHugh and Michael Murphy.

The position of Lacey, the 2012 All Stars Footballer of the Year,[5] was in some doubt ahead of the game after he picked up a hamstring injury playing for his club Four Masters.

[2] As the final of the 2012 Donegal Senior Football Championship was the following day, players from the St Eunan's and Naomh Conaill clubs were excused.