Donegal finished strongly with 1-07 without reply to put Derry in serious relegation trouble after an exciting contest in Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon.
Derry led by 1-19 to 0-15 by the 58th minute of the Allianz League Division 1 clash. But they lost Brendan Rogers to injury and that along with a super performance from substitute Michael Murphy, allowed Donegal to pile on the scores.
The arrival of Michael Murphy at half-time was a real boost to Donegal but despite the Glenswilly man creating two great goal chances that went abegging, Derry were still looking like winners until the final 10 minutes.
Derry had the advantage of the gentle breeze in the first half and the sides were close on the scoreboard for most of the half.
Ryan McHugh and Dáire Ó Baoill opened the Donegal account with Conor Glass, Lachlan Murray and Paul Cassidy replying for the Derry side.
Donegal had a number of goal chances but were unable to avail of any of them. Oisin Gallen had them level at 0-03 each and Lachlan Murran and Shane O'Donnell also traded points.
Ciaran Thompson had one of the points of the half to edge Donegal ahead on 22 minutes but Derry were sharper from there to the break. The impressive Lachlan Murray had the only two-pointer of the half to edge Derry ahead again and Eoin McEvoy and Shane McGuigan (free) opened a three-point gap.
Murray also had a great goal chance, denied by a point blank save by Shaun Patton and the follow up was scrambled off the line by two Donegal defenders.
Dáire Ó Baoill and Hugh McFadden cut the lead to one but Niall Loughlin and a Shane McGuigan two-point free left the half-time score - Donegal 0-07, Derry 0-11.
Ethan Doherty and Paul Cassidy pushed Derry six clear but Ciaran Thompson responded with a two
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