Passionate Donegal seal final place

Donegal 1-9 Derry 0-10

Donegal's reward for a display of passion and tireless endeavour at Clones is a place in the Ulster Football Championship final for the first time since 1998.

Mickey Moran's footballing revolution in the land of Tir Chonaill presses on defiantly, Derry the latest victim of a side brimming with confidence and self-belief.

The constant rain may have guaranteed there would have been no classic, the World Cup may have left the St Tiernach Park terraces almost empty, but there's no doubting the quality of this emerging Donegal side which will cause real problems to favourites Armagh in the decider.

Their joy contrasted sharply with the misery of a Derry side which finished with just 13 men, having had Johnny McBride and Conleth Gilligan sent off, and they now face life in the Qualifiers series without full back Sean Martin Lockhart, who broke his arm in a late clash.

Enda Muldoon shot an early Derry point, but it was Donegal who quickly adapted to the greasy surface conditions.

With John Gildea showing an impressive workrate in midfield, they swept over points through Christy Toye, Brendan Devenney, Jimmy McGuinness, Adrian Sweeney and Paul McGonigle to open up a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after almost half an hour of a scrappy encounter.

Derry's one-dimensional approach in pumping long ball in to full forward Enda Muldoon was less than effective, but they did enjoy more success when they played the ball wide, Johnny McBride and Paddy Bradley knocking over points from the left wing.

And when Gavin Diamond picked up a loose ball to split the posts in injury-time, just a point separated the sides at the break, Donegal ahead by 0-5 to 0-4.

And it was Diamond who brought the sides level immediately after the restart.

But Donegal won a penalty after five minutes, Devenney hauled down by goalkeeper Michael Conlon after being sent clear by Gildea's long delivery.

Adrian Sweeney smashed home the kick, and now Donegal were back in front, 1-5 to 0-5.

Derry never looked like having the penetration which would haul them back into contention, even when Diamond and Bradley narrowed the gap to a point.

Donegal, with Brian Roper running at the opposition defence, were infinitely more purposeful, and scores from Seeney and Roper kept heir noses in front.

After losing wing forwards McBride and Gilligan, both dismissed for second bookable offences, they lost their way, desperation set in, and Donegal looked comfortable and controlled.

They may have gone 37 minutes without scoring from play, but Christy Toye's sweet score was worth the wait, and when Sweeney launched a long range free between the posts, it was all over for Eamon Coleman's side.

Derry: M Conlon, G Doherty, N McCusker, S M Lockhart, C McNally, G Coleman, F Crossan, A Tohill (0-1), F Doherty, C Gilligan, D Dougan, J McBride (0-1), P Bradley (0-3), E Muldoon (0-1), G Diamond (0-4). Subs: G McGonigle for Dougan, B Mullan for Crossan

Donegal: T Blake, S Carr, M Crossan, N McGinley, R Sweeney, B Monaghan, K Cassidy, J Gildea, J McGuinness (0-1), C Toye (0-2), M Hegarty., B Roper (0-1), A Sweeney (1-3), B Devenney (0-1), P McGonigle (0-1). Subs: C McFadden for McGuinness, D Diver for Hegarty

Referee: M Collins (Cork)