Donegal suffocated Armagh in Ballybofey to move emphatically into the Ulster SFC semi-finals.
Patrick McBrearty’s goal 12 minutes into the second half was the game’s big score as Declan Bonner’s men stifled the Orchard.
The end margin might well have been more had Donegal been more economical with their shooting.
Save for brief spells in either half, Armagh were made look rather ordinary by Donegal.
Led by Brendan McCole, who continued his excellent form by keeping the shackles on Rian O’Neill, whom he held scoreless, the hosts were comfortable winners.
O’Neill, Aidan Nugent and Stefan Campbell were all cleared after successful appeals against suspensions handed down following a melee in Letterkenny after the final whistle in the Division 1 clash of these sides last month.
It was perhaps a measure of Donegal’s comfort that the mercury rarely rose past simmering here.
With a Ballybofey breeze that had a little bite in it behind them, Donegal led 0-9 to 0-6 at the break.
The home tally in part one included a monster Michael Murphy free from 47 metres that ignited their followers in the 13,689 attendance.
They won eight of Ethan Rafferty’s 14 kick-outs, but didn’t make that dominance count where it mattered.
Armagh peppered Donegal at the outset of the second half. O’Neill caught a raking deliver from Nugent in the opening seconds of part two, but a free was given to Donegal.
Shaun Patton’s reflexes denied Nugent soon after and Donegal survived the brief onslaught.
Championship debutant Shane O’Donnell, who showed well on his maiden voyage on the big stage, tucked over before McBrearty struck gold.
Having played in Caolan Ward, McBrearty was on hand to palm home the return pass across goal from the corner-back.
The game was creeping away from Armagh, who trailed 1-10 to 0-6 at that point.
Five points was as close as they came and they were unable to put Donegal under the cosh.
Ben Crealy and Rory Grugan, who top-scored for the visitors with five points, narrowed the margin, but Michael Langan quickly quelled any hint of a comeback.
Langan might have added a second Donegal goal, but the St Michael’s man arrowed over when played in three minutes from the end after Murphy powered through.
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