A Derry ambush had been flagged up as a possibility, but nobody could have predicted such a shocking humiliation of the All-Ireland champions on their home patch.
The Oak Leafers came to Omagh and destroyed Tyrone, who imploded and finished with 13 men, with the first half straight red for Brian Kennedy a key moment.
Derry’s 11-point victory was as deserved as it was emphatic.
Memories of 2006 were rekindled as Derry relived one of their finest days 16 years on, repeating their shock win over Tyrone, who then as now were All-Ireland champions, in Healy Park.
It was Derry’s first time beating Tyrone since 2006 and their first time to reach an Ulster semi-final since 2015.
The loss of Kennedy after 26 minutes and Shane McGuigan’s penalty three minutes later were huge momentum shifters.
Conor McKenna was also sent off for Tyrone for two yellow cards in the 66 th minute but the game was already long over as a contest.
The Derry players and fans, who travelled in greater numbers than usual, were tuned in to this right from the off while Tyrone were flat, off the pace and ponderous.
The hosts were not able to raise their game to match the hunger, urgency and speed of their opponents. Their big players were anonymous and underperformed again, as has been a theme throughout the season.
Darren McCurry was the one notable exception. On limited ball, he scored 0-4 and was the only Tyrone forward to score from play.
Tyrone were destroyed in the middle third, with Derry winning the majority of second balls, and they were well worth their 1-8 to 0-4 interval lead.
Shane McGuigan tucked away his penalty superbly in the 29 th minute after Peter Harte fouled Paul Cassidy.
Derry had a great supporting cast with Conor Doherty, the excellent Gareth McKinless, Ethan Doherty and Benny Heron all scoring from play before the two big first half moments.
Tyrone were in crisis mode when Kennedy was given a straight red card for recklessly kicking out at McKinless. Joint managers Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher did not engage with him as he made the lonely walk to the dugout and it was clear from the body language what they thought.
It was felt Shane McGuigan would have to shoot the lights out for Derry to win, but he didn’t have to.
He still finished with 1-4 but the accuracy of Niall Loughlin, who scored 0-7 including six from placed balls, and the scores from Doherty, Heron and Doherty were massive in the first half.
The industry of Gareth McKinless, who blocked and disrupted and supported, was huge.
Tyrone were in meltdown with McKenna picking up a second yellow and several other Tyrone players getting booked for petulance, as they saw their grip on their Ulster title slipping away.
To retain their All-Ireland crow, they will need to regroup and recover from a dismal showing.
For Derry, this is a win that will live long in the memories of their supporters.
It will also instil confidence in a group of players who will be listening intently to manager Rory Gallagher and believing that after this sensational result, a first Ulster title since 1998 is really possible.
TYRONE: N Morgan (0-1, ‘45’); M McKernan, R McNamee (0-1), P Hampsey; R Brennan, F Burns, N Sludden; C Kilpatrick, B Kennedy; C Meyler, P Harte, K McGeary; D McCurry (0-4, 2f), C McShane (0-2, 2f), C McKenna
Subs: M O’Neill for Burns (HT), D Canavan (0-2, 1f, one mark) for McShane (HT), B McDonnell for Brennan (55), C Munroe for Sludden (66), M Conroy for McGeary (69)
DERRY: O Lynch; C McKaigue, B Rogers, C McCluskey; C Doherty (0-2), G McKinless (0-1), P McGrogan; C Glass, N Toner; P Cassidy, S Downey, E Doherty (0-1); B Heron (0-2), S McGuigan (1-4, 2f), N Loughlin (0-7, 5f, one ‘45’)
Subs: E Bradley (0-1, mark) for Toner (55), Padraig Cassidy for Paul Cassidy (64), P McNeill for Downey (69), B McCarron for E Doherty (69)
REFEREE: Fergal Kelly (Longford)
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