Michael Doherty scored six points as Donegal beat Westmeath by 0-14 to 1-09 at Breffni Park for a place in the NFL Division Two final.
The Four Masters clubman was deadly accurate again as he scored two late frees, allied to crucial points from defender Kevin Cassidy and captain Christy Toye, to see the Tir Chonaill men through to a final meeting with Division 2B's best side Louth.
The sides were locked level at 0-02 apiece after a bright opening spell. Doherty landed two points while Dessie Dolan, who grabbed 0-04 (2f) in the first half, and James Nugent replied for Westmeath.
The midlanders, thanks to two more Dolan points, remained on the coattails of Donegal, who led 0-05 to 0-04 by the 24th-minute. Late replacement Adrian Sweeney cracked over two frees and James Gallagher also got off the mark for the Ulster outfit.
A burst of points from Cassidy, Michael Hegarty and Doherty (free) pushed Donegal into a strong 0-08 to 0-05 lead at the break. Westmeath had had their chances – Denis Glennon, Alan Mangan and even the mercurial Dolan were guilty of missing shots at the posts as their side hit eight first half wides.
A Dolan free – eight minutes into the second half – edged Westmeath closer – and Tomas O'Flatharta’s men even went ahead midway through the half. Right corner forward PJ Ward ghosted through and netted after good work from Mangan and Gary Dolan.
0-09 to 1-07 down, Doherty squared it up before Dolan pushed Westmeath back in front. Then Donegal really nailed down their place in the final with Doherty (2), Cassidy and Toye scoring in a four-point burst. Dolan sent over a last-minute point but there was no denying Brian McIver's side.
