Tipperary had their team captain Ciaran McDonald sent-off as Ulster champions Donegal enjoyed an ultimately comfortable passage through to next month's All-Ireland Under-21 FC final.

In a scrappy first half, Donegal built a 0-3 to 0-1 lead with target man Michael Murphy leading by example. He kicked six points in all, with Donegal seizing control after McDonald's dismissal early in the second half.

There was just one point from play in the opening half, registered by Donegal's Leo McLoone. Both sides created goal chances, with Tipperary wing forward Aldo Matassa going close for the Munster champions when he thumped a shot off the crossbar.

Murphy got the better of marker McDonald but shot wide when a goal looked on, but Jim McGuinness' side had done enough to deserve their interval lead.

McDonald fouled Murphy in the opening minutes of the second half, picking up his second yellow card, and Tipp boss John Evans made an immediate switch by bringing centre-back John Coghlan closer to goal to mark big full-forward Murphy.

A pointed free from Murphy put the Tir Chonaill youngsters four ahead, only for Sean Carey to reply for Tipperary as the tempo thankfully increased and both attacks clicked into gear.

The sides traded points again before Peter Acheson wasted a very good goal-scoring chance, making a poor connection with the ball after Robbie Kiely had played him in.

The gap remained at four points as Dermot Molloy and Alan Moloney traded scores, but Donegal, with wing forward Mark McHugh in man-of-the-match form, bossed the closing stages during which they hit four points without reply.

Scores from Murphy (0-2), Molloy and James Carroll sealed their county's place in their first All-Ireland Under-21 decider since 1987. Dublin will provide the opposition on May 1, with the venue to be confirmed.