Donegal advanced to their fifth consecutive Ulster SFC decider with a hard-earned 1-9 to 0-10 victory over neighbours Derry at Clones.

Martin O'Reilly's 45th-minute goal was the decisive score in a disappointing match that the underdogs will feel they could have won. Alas, the Oak Leafers go into the draw for the second round of the Qualifiers, while the Anglo-Celt Cup holders - who prevailed despite not being at their best - will meet Monaghan on Ulster final day for the third successive season.

The sides shared ten points during the course of a gruelling opening half that saw goal chances conjured at both ends but none taken. Rory Gallagher's men led by three points in the early stages but Derry eventually got the measure of them and were full value for parity at the short whistle.

The winners made a late change to their starting XV, with match-winner O'Reilly - second-half goal-scorer against Armagh in the last round - coming in for Mark McHugh. Their goalkeeper Paul Durcan had to be on his toes inside the first minute to deny Enda Lynn a Derry goal and the holders went up to the other side of the field to take the lead through Odhran MacNiallais.

With 19,237 looking on, Eoin Bradley's free levelled the scores but a Patrick McBrearty brace - one from play and then a free - had the Tir Chonail men ahead by 0-3 to 0-1 after ten minutes. Christy Toye and Bradley exchanged points and the Oak Leafers almost worked another goal chance but Sean Leo McGoldrick couldn't quite get there.

Caolan O'Boyle reduced the arrears and a brilliant Mark Lynch point had Brian McIver's charges on terms again in the 22nd minute.

Goalkeeper Thomas Mallon executed a magnificent diving save to keep Michael Murphy's fisted effort out of the Derry net two minutes from the break after Man of the Match Colm McFadden - with a trademark swipe of the mercurial left peg - and Chrissy McKaigue had posted points at either end.

Nor for the first time, McFadden and Murphy each nailed super scores for Donegal as they tried to kick on at the start of the second half but Niall Holly replied. However, there was daylight between the team for the first time in the tenth minute of the second half when O'Reilly netted in his second successive championship outing (benefiting from excellent work from Neil Gallagher) after Martin McElhinney had pointed: 1-8 to 0-6!

But, with an hour played, the gap was just two as the Oak Leafers rallied with three consecutive scores from Lynch (free), O'Boyle and Benny Heron. Seven minutes from the end, Murphy stretched the gap after McBrearty's free had rebounded off an upright; but again Derry struck back, this time with wing back Ciaran McFaul on target.

Derry pair Brendan Rogers and McFaul were shown black cards in the 67th and 68th minutes respectively but there were no further scores as Donegal qualified for their fifth successive provincial final.

Donegal - P Durcan; P McGrath, N McGee, E McGee; M O'Reilly (1-0), K Lacey, F McGlynn; N Gallagher, M McElhinney (0-1); C Toye (0-1), O MacNiallais (0-1), R McHugh; P McBrearty (0-2, 1f), M Murphy (0-2), C McFadden (0-2). Subs: M McHugh for C McFadden, A Thompson for C Toye, H McFadden for M McElhinney, D Walsh for P McBrearty.

Derry - T Mallon; O Duffy, B Rogers, D McBride; K Johnston, C McKaigue (0-1), C McFaul (0-1); N Holly (0-1), F Doherty; S L McGoldrick, M Lynch (0-2, 1f), E Lynn; D Heavron, E Bradley (0-2f), C O'Boyle (0-2). Subs: B Heron (0-1) for S L McGoldrick, L McGoldrick for O Duffy, T O'Brien for E Lynn, N Loughlin for E Bradley, E Lynn for C O'Boyle, C McAtamney for B Rogers (BC), C McFaul (BC).

Referee - N Hickey.

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