In a one-sided affair at Ballybofey, Donegal beat neighbours Derry by 2-13 to 0-9.

The reigning provincial champions will surely be more sternly tested when they meet Tyrone at the semi-final stage at Clones in a fortnight, but a disappointing Derry side failed to ask any questions of the Tir Chonail men in front of 11,207 spectators tonight.

Leo McLoone's 30th-minute goal helped Jim McGuinness' men take a commanding 1-6 to 0-4 lead into the half-time break, with the lacklustre losers managing just one score from play during the opening 35 minutes.

For this repeat of last year's Ulster final, Derry started as selected while there was no place in the Donegal starting XV for Rory Kavanagh, with captain Michael Murphy named at midfield (but starting around the '40'). Eamon McGee came in at right half back.

The visitors were playing their first competitive match in ten weeks and were determined to put an indifferent league campaign behind them. They failed to do so.

Donegal were the first to attack in earnest after some very slack Derry play around the middle of the field but Colm McFadden inexplicably fisted his effort wide from point-blank range after being unselfishly placed by the strong-running Murphy.

Both sets of players were struggling to cope with the slippery conditions in the early stages and so perhaps was referee Marty Duffy as an extremely soft free awarded in front of the posts for the most innocuous challenge on David Walsh presented McFadden with a routine free from which he opened the scoring in the sixth minute.

A couple of minutes later, an exquisite Mark Lynch point from out the field drew the Oak Leafers level, only for Walsh to almost immediately restore the holders' advantage. McFadden's 'point' was ruled out as he was adjudged to have touched the ball on the ground but the No.14 made amends when he won and converted a lovely left-footed free from the hands in the twelfth minute.

Conleth Gilligan had an opportunity to narrow the gap but he dragged his free wide and the first quarter in general was very disappointing with no shape or substance to proceedings. Paddy McBrearty's 19th-minute point from play sent Donegal three points clear but, a minute later, All Star full back Neil McGee's attempt for a point went wide via an upright.

Derry's shooting was all over the place, with Enda Lynn and Barry McGoldrick (free) wasting chances as they struggled to add to Lynch's seventh-minute finish. However, Paddy Bradley arrowed over a trademark free to double the away team's tally in the 24th minute.

The erratic shooting seemed to be momentarily contagious as McFadden dragged a '45' to the right and wide. However, wing back Anthony Thompson showed the way with a superb strike from the left wing. Donegal's defenders were causing Derry's defence all sorts of problems with their forward forays.

At the other end, Frank McGlynn's foul presented Bradley with his second of the evening from a simple free and John Brennan's charges were within two points again: 0-5 to 0-3.

On the half hour, McFadden's penetrating run and inadvertent lay-off created a goal for corner forward McCloone, who improvised well to half-volley the ball to the net from close range, giving Barry Gillis no chance.

Bradley replied with a brilliant free and Derry were unfortunate when Chrissy McKaigue's dangerous high delivery came to nothing at the end of first-half normal time. In injury time, Murphy stroked over a free from the hands to leave five points between the teams at the short whistle.

Derry were first out for the second half and they went straight on the offensive but Lynch's free from distance came to nothing and Emmet McGuckian drilled a shot wide. In contrast, corner back and Man of the Match McGlynn thumped over a fantastic Donegal point five minutes after the restart.

In the 44th minute, after Derry had been disposed in the middle of the field, Donegal ran purposefully at the heart of their defence and the ball was offloaded to McFadden, who slammed an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net from point-blank range: 2-7 to 0-4 … Game Over.

Again, the Derry response was a Bradley free - his fourth - but they were creating nothing and in truth were being totally outclassed. Murphy (free) boomed over another Donegal point to leave nine points between the teams with 20 minutes to go.

The impressive Walsh added to the winners' tally and Sean Leo McGoldrick provided his team's second score from play before Gallagher lofted over a tenth point for the victors. McFadden followed suit. Twelve minutes from time, Murphy converted his third free as the procession continued.

Paddy Bradley notched his first score from play in the 60th minute at the end of a patient Derry move but some of the travelling supporters missed that one as they had elected to start their short journey home early.

Derry now had four Bradleys on the field - with Patsy, Eoin and Emmet all in as substitutes - but Donegal's Bradley, Ryan, had the freedom of MacCumhaill Park as he pointed next.

The butt of a post denied McBrearty a third Donegal major and Paul Durcan's top-drawer save denied Lynch a consolation goal at the other end. Eoin Bradley made no mistake from the resultant '45' and McBrearty had time to take his second point before the end.

Coming in injury time, Paddy Bradley's sixth point was a mere consolation.

Donegal: P Durcan; P McGrath, N McGee, F McGlynn (0-1); E McGee, K Lacey, A Thompson (0-1); M Murphy (0-3), N Gallagher (0-1); D Walsh (0-1), M McHugh, R Bradley (0-1); P McBrearty (0-2), C McFadden (1-3), L McLoone (1-0). Subs: S Griffin, D Molloy, M McElhiney,

Derry: B Gillis; J McCamley, C McKaigue, SL McGoldrick (0-1); B McGoldrick, M Craig, E Scullion; J Diver, M Friel; G O'Kane, M Lynch (0-1), E Lynn; C Gilligan, Paddy Bradley (0-6), E McGuckian. Subs: M Donaghy, Patsy Bradley, C Kielt, Eoin Bradley (0-1), Emmet Bradley. Tweet

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