Determined Derry came from behind to inflict a stunning 1-17 to 0-18 defeat on 14-man Cavan at Breffni Park.

Things were not looking so good for the winners when they suffered an eleven-point loss to Tyrone at home in May but they have regrouped brilliantly with back-door wins over Louth, Meath and now Cavan to keep their season very much alive.

Conor Moynagh's point had the hosts ahead by 0-14 to 1-7 at the three-quarters stage but they had lost wing back Feargal Flanagan to a red card in injury time before the short whistle and it was Damian Barton's men who finished strongest to clinch a date with either Tipperary or the losers of tomorrow's Connacht final replay (Galway or Roscommon) next weekend.

The only goal of the game was punched to the net by Emmett McGuckin in the ninth minute but the losers kicked on with a string of points from Martin Reilly (2), Dara McVeety, Seanie Johnston and Gearoid McKiernan (3) to lead by 0-11 to 1-4 at the break.

The visitors had James Kielt dismissed with a black card before the interval but the loss of Flanagan was much more pertinent as he could not be replaced.

Two Mark Lynch points and one from Conor McAtamney to a solitary reply (goalkeeper Raymond Galligan slotting a free) began the revival upon the restart but another Galligan free and Moynagh's point meant Terry Hyland's men still held their four-point half-time cushion with a quarter of the game left.

Cue a devastating rally from the Oak Leaf men (now backed by the wind) and points from Danny Heavron, Lynch and sub Niall Toner - with Galligan again replying - to close the gap to two with ten minutes left. The sides were level by the 63^rd minute as Galligan tipped Toner's effort over and Niall Loughlin drilled over a '45'.

Lynch edged the winners in front but Dara McVeety equalised with three minutes left, 0-16 to 1-13. However, late points from McGuckin, Toner and Enda Lynn had the Derry men on their way and Lynch pointed his seventh in between Cavan scores from Jack Brady (free) and substitute Gerard Smith to secure a magnificent win.

It's been a dream run for the Oak Leaf since their Ulster loss to the Red Hands and they are now as close as their neighbours to a place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals!

Derry - T Mallon; G McKinless, C McKaigue, K McKaigue; C McFaul, B Rogers, C Mullan; C McAtamney (0-1), N Holly; D Heavron (0-1), C Bradley (0-1), E Brown; J Kielt (0-1), E McGuckin (1-1), M Lynch (0-7, 4f). Subs: E Lynn (0-1) for J Kielt (BC), N Loughlin (0-1'45) for E Brown, N Toner (0-3) for C Bradley, E Bradley for C McAtamney, L McGoldrick for B Rogers, N Forester for C McFaul.

Cavan - R Galligan (0-3f); K Brady, R Dunne, P Faulkner; F Flanagan, C Moynagh (0-1), M Reilly (0-2); T Corr, M Argue (0-1); D McVeety (0-3), G McKiernan (0-4, 3f), K Clarke; C Mackey (0-1), J Brady (0-1f), S Johnston (0-1f). Subs: N Murray for M Argue, C Brady for P Faulkner, J McLoughlin for K Brady, T Hayes for S Johnston, G Smith (0-1) for T Corr, L Buchanan for C Mackey.

Referee - E Kinsella.

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