Ulster SFC: Donegal hit four goals to stun champions Derry

Jim McGuinness further enhanced his reputation as one of the greatest managers in the modern era by leading Donegal to a stunning 4-11 to 0-17 triumph over Derry in Celtic Park.

Donegal powered home with three second-half goals to end Derry's attempt to win three Ulster titles in a row.

Daire O'Baoill chipped Odhran Lynch twice before Oisin Gallen and Jamie Brennan goals sealed a memorable win.

Donegal will play Tyrone or Cavan in the Ulster semi-final next Sunday.

History repeats itself for Harte

Derry have a month to regroup for the All-Ireland series after McGuinness inflicted another horrible déjà vu moment on Derry manager Mickey Harte, who is yet to beat the Donegal maestro in championship football.

McGuinness defeated Harte's Tyrone team in the Ulster Championship three years in a row from 2011 to 2013 - but his new Donegal team were not expected to be ready to topple a seasoned, well-established Derry side in year one of his second stint in charge.

• Four-goal Donegal stun Ulster holders Derry - as it happened

McGuinness' return to the Donegal sideline for the first time in 10 years, allied to Tyrone legend Harte's surprise appointment as Derry boss this year, meant that their collision in this Ulster Championship first round clash was always going to be a fascinating prospect.

And the game itself did not disappoint.

A high-octane, high-quality encounter was bossed mostly by the Division Two champions who dropped very deep, broke at speed and were still able to mark the Division One champions' best players out of the game.

Conor Glass and Shane McGuigan, so often key men during Derry's marvellous run over the last few years, were peripheral figures and there was no Plan B as Donegal streaked clear.

Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Jason McGee and Daire O Baoill produced masterful performances for Donegal, who have blown the Ulster Championship wide open by taking out the hot favourites.

Daire O'Baoill lobbed a stranded Derry goalkeeper Odhran Lynch twice, once in each half before Oisin Gallen dispatched a penalty after Chrissy McKaigue fouled Shane O'Donnell to move Donegal an incredible seven points up, 3-8 to 0-10.

With the joyous Donegal fans scarcely believing their eyes, Jamie Brennan completed the rout blasting the ball high into the net to finish off yet another Donegal counterattack.

Donegal had turned a narrow 1-7 to 0-9 interval lead into an impressive six-point victory that will live long in the memory of the 14,714 packed inside Celtic Park.

Jim McGuinness previously managed Donegal from 2011 to 2014, winning the All-Ireland in 2012

The game started as most Derry games have started this year, with the Oak Leafers dictating the terms and having things their own way.

Ethan Doherty scored the first of three first-half points in the second minute and after an impressive period of keep-ball by the Division One league champions, Paul Cassidy finished the remarkable passage of play with a second Derry point.

Already it looked like Donegal were chasing shadows, but from the moment Caolan McGonagle broke through and had a goal-bound shot saved by Odhran Lynch, the game caught fire.

Suddenly Donegal started with playing with purpose, confidence and belief and in a glorious eight-minute spell they hit 1-4 without reply.

Central to it all was Ryan McHugh who picked his moments and broke with speed, scorching through the lines and kicking a point from play off either foot.

He had a major hand in O Baoill's goal too, pouncing on a loose ball batted down by a Derry kickout and slipping it to O Baoill who had the vision and accuracy to chip the stranded Lynch.

It put Donegal 1-4 to 0-3 ahead after 19 minutes and Derry, so unused to the position of having to chase games, reacted with two substitutions bringing on Gareth McKinless and Niall Toner.

Derry 'keeper Odhran Lynch runs back towards his own goal as the ball is chipped over his head

The 15 minutes before half time was finely balanced with the teams trading points and it was anticipated Derry would come out with a new sense of direction and impose themselves on the game.

Instead, it was Donegal who picked up where they left off.

Lightning struck twice when O Baoill lobbed Lynch for a second time, the sweeper keeper clearly undeterred by the concession of the opening goal.

McHugh was again involved in the move that led to Gallen's penalty with a lovely floated ball over the top to O Baoill.

After Donegal were temporarily reduced to 14 players with Niall O'Donnell's black card, Derry had a good spell with points from Lachlan Murray and Shane McGuigan, but Brennan's goal on the break after 64 minutes sealed it.

While no-one saw Donegal capable of producing a performance of this intensity, and sustaining it for a whole game, Derry will have plenty to ponder after a damaging defeat but will undoubtedly still have a big say in the All-Ireland series once the dust settles on an unforgettable evening in Celtic Park.