Benny Coulter inspired Down to an extra-time win over Donegal in the Ulster SFC at Ballybofey.
The veteran attacker turned in a vintage performance, hitting a 1-4 tally, including the killer goal deep into extra-time.
Now James McCartan, in his first year as Mourne manager, takes his side to meet provincial champions Tyrone in the semi-final on June 19.
But for Donegal, it’s another foray into the Qualifiers and a summer of uncertainty.
Dermot Molloy celebrated his first championship appearance with a sublime Donegal goal on 12 minutes, firing a rocket past Brendan McVeigh after Michael Murphy had fielded Barry Monaghan’s delivery.
Down, after a slow start finally got moving with purpose, and after Benny Coulter had shot their opening score, they had further points from John Clarke and a Mark Poland free.
But they were rocked back on their heels again by a second Donegal goal in the 19th minute.
Murphy and Molloy were involved again, and when t latter’s shot for a point came off a post, and unmarked Conal Dunne collected to shoot past McVeigh.
With Marty Clarke gradually emerging as an effective playmaker, Down rallied again, and after Clarke had got his name on the scoresheet, Daniel Hughes squeezed over a brilliant score from a tight angle.
With James Colgan protecting his full back line, Donegal struggled to get the ball to danger man Murphy, and Down’s more direct style saw them et further scores from Poland and Hughes.
However, Molloy brought his tally to 1-3 with two frees, and the home side led by 2-3 to 0-7 at the break.
Substitute Adrian Hanlon had just eased John Joe Doherty’s side into a three points lead when Down boss James McCartan gambled on sending Dan Gordon to full forward, with Coulter dropping deep, and the switch worked a treat.
Coulter played a one-two with Brendan McArdle to shoot a superb equalising score, and landed another beauty from distance after David Walsh had edged Donegal back in front.
But it was goalkeeper Paul Durcan who emerged as Donegal’s hero, pulling off a stunning save as Gordon got a fist to Clarke’s sideline ball.
Clarke hit what appeared to be the winner from the resultant ’45, but Rory Kavanagh sent the tie to added time with an stoppage time leveller, tying it up at 2-7 to 0-13.
Down moved two points clear with another Coulter special and a fourth for Hughes to go into the second period of extra-time ahead by 0-15 to 2-7.
And when Coulter got on the end of a move involving Hughes and Clarke to drill home a goal four minutes from the end, it was all over for John Joe Doherty’s men.
Donegal: P Durcan, F McGlynn, N McGee, K Lacey, M Maguire, K Cassidy, B Dunnion, B Monaghan, N Gallagher, R Kavanagh (0-1), C Toye, D Walsh (0-1), D Molloy (1-3 (2f), M Murphy (0-1, f), C Dunne (1-0)
Subs: A Hanlon (0-1) for Toye (43), A Thompson for Monaghan (52), M McHugh (0-1) for Gallagher (62), C McFadden (0-1, f) for Molloy (66), Gallagher for Thompson (71), P McGrath for McGlynn (79), E Wade (0-1) for Maguire (81)
Down: B McVeigh, B McArdle, D Rooney, D Rafferty, K McKernan, J Colgan, C Garvey, D Gordon, K King, D Hughes (0-4), M Poland (0-3, 2f), P McComiskey, B Coulter (1-4), J Clarke (0-1), M Clarke (0-3, 1 ’45).
Subs: C Maginn for J Clarke (47), P Fitzpatrick for McComiskey (54), D O’Hagan for McKernan (62), C Laverty for Poland (78), R Murtagh for Garvey (85)
Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan)
