Donegal won their first Ulster football title since 1992 with a comprehensive win over Derry at Clones.
Skipper Michael Murphy, who was just three years old when the Anglo-Celt Cup last took up residence in the hills of Tir Chonail, could barely struggle his way through the masses of elated supporters to take delivery of the coveted silverware.
Murphy played a key role in his side’s triumph, netting the only goal of the game from a penalty early in the second half.
Derry lacked the firepower to make a real impact, and now they face a difficult qualifier tie against Kildare, while Donegal march on to the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
In front of a crowd of 28,364, Colm McFadden and Anthony Thompson found the range early on as Donegal eased ahead.
Derry did create chances, but the extent of the loss of the Bradley brothers was graphically illustrated when Conleith Gilligan, Joe Diver and Enda Muldoon all blazed badly wide.
Nevertheless, they trailed by just a point midway through the first half, after James Kielt converted a free, moments after Michael Murphy had slotted a point from McFadden’s knock-down.
It was McFadden’s vision again which set up wing back Thompson for his second, after Ryan Bradley had powered over an excellent score, and Donegal, despite their defensive strategy, were beginning to move with purpose and confidence.
Mark McHugh operated as an extra defender, but that allowed Thompson, Karl Lacey and Kevin Cassidy to push forward.
Derry centre-back Charlie Kielt was his side’s top finisher, hitting his second point to narrow the gap to two with 10 minutes to play in the opening half
Now Derry had their spell, and managed to eradicate their earlier wastefulness, with Gilligan nailing a free and substitute Martin Donaghy bringing them level on 31 minutes.
With Joe Diver and Michael Friel gaining an edge at midfield, where Donegal’s problems intensified with the loss of Rory Kavanagh through injury, the Oak Leafers had momentum on their side.
Donegal failed to score during the final 17 minutes of the half, with skipper Murphy kicking wide from a straightforward free in stoppage time.
The sides went in level on 0-05 each at the break, but Donegal struck a massive blow three minutes into the second half when Murphy drilled home a penalty after he had been brought down by goalkeeper Danny Devlin.
Michael Hegarty opened out a four points lead, but Derry responded with two James Kielt points, one of them a sublime effort from play.
The Oak Leafers dug deep, but a series of unforced errors and stray final passes stifled their efforts to get themselves back in contention.
Murphy sent a booming effort between the posts from distance at the other end, and Hegarty capped a wonderful performance with his second point as the finish line moved into sight for the Donegal men.
The scores had dried up totally for the Oak Leafers, until James Kielt’s effort ended a 22 minute barren spell
Donegal scorers: M Murphy 1-02 (1-00 pen), C McFadden 0-04 (2f), M Hegarty, A Thompson 0-02 each, R Bradley 0-01.
Derry scorers: J Kielt 0-04 (2f), C Kielt 0-02, C Gilligan (f), M Donaghy 0-01 each.
Donegal: P Durcan, F McGlynn, N McGee, P McGrath, A Thompson, K Lacey, K Cassidy, R Kavanagh, N Gallagher, M McHugh, M Hegarty, R Bradley, P McBrearty, M Murphy, C McFadden.
Subs: M McElhinney for Kavanagh (32), D Molloy for McBrearty (52), D Walsh for Bradley (58), G O’Kane for B McGoldrick (61), PJ McCloskey for Muldoon (61)
Derry: D Devlin, SL McGoldrick, K McGuckin, D McBride, C Mullan, C Kielt, B McGoldrick, J Diver, M Friel, M Lynch, C O’Boyle, M Bateson, E Muldoon, J Kielt, C Gilligan.
Subs: M Donaghy for Bateson (27), K McCloy for Mullan (46), E McGuckin for Gilligan
Referee: M Deegan (Laois).
