Another five-star, second half showing from Derry saw them seal their place in the Sam Maguire, defeating a courageous Clare by seven points at Pearse Park tonight.

With a knockout berth up for grabs, Derry drove out of the firing lane quickly, two swift scores by Shane McGuigan and goalkeeper Odhran Lynch setting the tone, 0-2 ahead.

It took until nine minutes in for Clare to comeback, Killian Sexton successful with his attempt.

Ethan Doherty and McGuigan’s second opened the gap to three, but Emmet McMahon was on hand to halve the deficit, 0-2 to 0-4. 

Niall Loughlin plundered Derry’s fifth point before Clare tipped the scales their way.

First, Jamie Malone’s point took their tally to 0-3 and then McMahon surged up field and fired a shot in beyond Lynch to jolt the Longford crowd into life as the hosts hoisted themselves ahead.

Lynch and McMahon then swapped points before McGuigan levelled and levitated the visitors back into the lead with a timely brace, his third and fourth points, respectively.

Defenders Daniel Walsh and Gareth McKinless then struck peerlessly apiece before McMahon had the last word of the opening half, his point rendering standings all square, 1-6 to 0-9.

With Cillian Rounie, on a yellow card, off at the break for Clare as Michael Garry came in, the Pearse Park would have hoped they had the springboard to push for the win that could, miraculously, propel them through.

Yet their dreams were extinguished firstly by Donegal’s lead at Monaghan, keeping Clare bottom of the pile regardless of victory and by, another, scintillating Derry second half.

Loughlin’s third put them on their way before Paul Cassidy and McGuigan’s fifth point stretched the lead to three.

Darragh Bohannon’s point was a mere blip in the process of Derry’s driven demolition job as the experienced Benny Heron then smuggled a goal in, making it 1-12 to 1-7, a five-point buffer and breathing space.

Clearly liberated by this newfound freedom, McGuigan helped himself to his second instantaneous brace whilst Loughlin increased his total to an influential four.

McMahon heroically scored his seventh to stem the bleeding, yet McGuigan and Cassidy fired over shortly after to ensure Clare’s plaster continued to soak up war wounds.

Replacement, Mark McInerney and Malone’s second lifted Clare to 1-10 but somewhat looking up the daunting cliff to Derry’s 1-17. 

The summit of scaling which grew higher thanks to McKinless’ second sweetly struck point, Malone and McGuigan exchanging good and simply excellent individual tallies to three and nine, respectively, as the clock ticked to full time.

Clare pulled another back via replacement Michael Garry yet Loughlin’s fifth iced Derry’s cake despite another late home point, McMahon’s mighty eighth.

So, the Oak Leafers advance onwards, second half form reminiscent of the Ballybofey onslaught two weeks ago, makes them formidable opposition to take the All-Ireland from.

Clare, down and out, but with plenty of hearts won, they will be back stronger.