Bonner's focus already moved to Cavan semi-final test

Donegal boss Declan Bonner was already looking ahead to an Ulster semi-final meeting with Cavan in two weeks' time before the nets had even been taken down at Ballybofey on Sunday.

Paddy McBrearty's 46th-minute goal was the most crucial score of the day as Bonner's men saw off Armagh with relative comfort, 1-16 to 0-12, at their home venue.

The game was in the balance right up until McBrearty exchanged passes with Caolan Ward before palming home to finally break the Orchard County's will.

"It was always going to be tough," Bonner told RTÉ Sport.

"We knew Armagh were a big, big test for us but I thought the lads answered a lot of questions out there today."

Cavan got through a similar day's work away to Antrim on Saturday and the two will now meet with a place in the provincial final at stake.

"At the end of the day, it's still only a first-round win from our point of view," Bonner said.

"We'll have to get ready for a semi-final in two weeks' time.

"It was very difficult, it was a swirling wind, it made kicking very very difficult.

"Armagh found it very difficult in the second half to get those scores. I was quite happy, we ended up with 1-16 and any day you put up 1-16 you're going to win a Championship match.

"We told the lads at half-time, we were three points up, we knew we'd missed a couple of opportunities, just to continue what they were doing in the second half.

"The goal was an absolutely brilliant goal. At that stage, we knew it was game over from our point of view.

The way we play football, it's difficult to turn defensive. We like to play, we're a team that do like to play football.

"We did drop Michael [Murphy] back a little bit. It was a workmanlike performance, with guys coming off the bench as well - so, yeah,