A point deep into injury-time by substitute Ryan McNicholl gave Derry victory in this Ulster Championship semi-final clash.
Donegal 0-14 Derry 1-12
By Charlie Collins at MacCumhaill Park
But the added time by referee Enda Mallon will be the talking point for many days to come.
Donegal had home advantage at MacCumhaill Park by virtue of their top spot finish after an unbeaten record in their Group matches.
Derry finished runners-up behind Tyrone in the other Group, their only defeat coming by just one point against their table toppers neighbours.
They followed that up with a comfortable quarter-final victory over Cavan to set up this last four clash with Shaun Paul Barrett’s Donegal .
Luke McGlynn gave Donegal a first minute lead and after Derry had missed several chances Conor Reid added another in the 7th minute and Conor McGinty quickly added a third from long range.
We didn’t have the next score until the 18th minute, it was Derry’s first and a fine effort from Patrick McGurk but Patrick McElwee replied immediately with an excellent free to make 0-04 to 0-01 to Donegal after twenty minutes.
Luke McGlynn added his second point from a free , Ruairi Fobres replied for Derry but Sean Martin finished off a fine Donegal move with a fine score.
Cahir Spiers added Derry’s third point but again Donegal responded with a mark point from Karl Joseph Molloy.
However Derry had the final say of the first half with Eoin Higgins successful free to leave Donegal three ahead at half-time , 0-07 to 0-04.
Luke McGlynn started the second-half as he had the first with a quick point but after that Derry took control.
Oisín Doherty finished off an excellent move with the game’s first goal, Sean Ward converted a 45 to put Donegal two ahead but Derry then kicked four in a row from Conal Heron , Ruairi Forbes , Oisín Doherty and Forbes again and they led for the first time, 1-08 to 0-09.
Senan Carr replied for Donegal but three in a row for Derry from subs Ryan McNicholl and Ciaran Chambers and another from Oisin Doherty put Derry four ahead , 1-11 to 0-10 .
But Donegal weren’t finished and showed great fighting spirit with four points in a row from Karl Magee, Cian McMenamin , Luke McGlynn and Kevin Lynch to draw level, as the three minutes of injury-time signaled came to an end and Extra-time beckoned .
However Referee Enda Mallon allowed Derry one last attack as the clock ran past those three minutes and they took full advantage when Oisin Doherty fed Ryan McNicholl and he made no errors as he kicked the winner point.
The Donegal dugout were less than pleased with the referee’s decision to add another half-minute and the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow.
Heartbreak for Donegal, however credit to Derry for their second-half performance with Oisin Doherty’s early goal the spark that sent them on their way to the Ulster Final.
Donegal: Damien McGowan; Callum McCrea, Finbarr Roarty, Karl Magee (0-01), , Finn Coll, Oisin Caulfield, Sean Martin (0-01) , Conor Reid (0-01), Shaun Ward (0-01/45), Conor McGinty (0-01), Luke McGlynn ( 0-04 ) Senan Carr (0-01) , Eoghan Kelly, Patrick McElwee ( 0-01), KJ Molloy (0-01),
Subs used ; Niall Prendiville , Kevin Lynch (0-01), Donal Gallagher , Cian McMenamin (0-01),Lorcan McGee,
Derry: Callum Armstrong, Fionn McEldowney, James Murray, Rory Small, Conleth McGrogan, Patrick McGurk ( 0-01), Danny McDermott. , Tommy Rogers , Conal Heron (0-01), Cahir Spiers (0-01), Ruairi Forbes (0-03), Johnny McGuckian, Niall O’Donnell, Eoin Higgins (0-01), Oisin Doherty ( 1-02),
Subs used ; Ciaran Chambers (0-01), Ryan McNicholl (0-02).
Referee ; Enda Mallon ( Armagh).
