But sort it out they did as three quick scores from Murphy, Gallen and Conor O’Donnell got them back on the rails.
Although Monaghan hit back through O’Halloran and McCarthy, momentum was rapidly swinging and, after Shane O’Donnell pointed, Donegal got the goal that brought their fans to life as Michael Langan took a pop pass from Murphy, managed to find some space and sent a rocket of a shot past Beggan to whittle the gap back to two.
Despite the six-day turnaround, the Tir Chonaill men now seemed to have boundless energy and, although Stephen O’Donnell hit back with a point, Donegal would rattle off the next nine on the spin with the O’Donnells and substitute Patrick McBrearty to the fore before Langan kicked a two of his own to put them eight clear.
David Garland would land a two-pointer at the other end after 23 scoreless minutes for the Farneymen who had lost their way completely, racking up a dozen wides overall, but it was mere consolation as Donegal return to the last four.
Donegal: S Patton; F Roarty, B McCole, P Mogan (0-2); R McHugh (0-1), E Ban Gallagher, C Moore; H McFadden, M Langan (1-3, 1x2p); C McColgan, C Thompson (0-4, 2x2p), S O’Donnell (0-3); C O’Donnell (0-4), M Murphy (0-4, 2f), O Gallen (0-3).
Subs: D O Baoill for C McColgan (41), J McGee for H McFadden (45), P McBrearty (0-2) for O Gallen (49), E McHugh for R McHugh (56), N O’Donnell for M Murphy (67)
Monaghan: R Beggan (0-5, 1x2pf, 1x2p, 1f); R Wylie, K Duffy, D Byrne; R O’Toole (0-1), D Ward, C McCarthy (0-2); M McCarville, G Mohan; A Carey, M Bannigan (1-2, 0-1f), R McAnespie; C McNulty (0-1), A Woods (0-4, 2x2p), S O’Hanlon (0-3).
Subs: J McCarron for R McAnespie (40), L Kelly for M McCarville (50), D Garland (0-2, 1x2p) for C McNulty (51), D Hughes for C McCarthy (59), K O’Connell for G Mohan (59).
Temporary sub: S Mooney for D Garland (59-63)
Referee: P Neilan (Roscommon)
