Donegal had five points to spare in this provincial semi-final clash with Armagh at Breffni Park, 0-15 to 0-10.

A total of 2,708 turned up to watch the match despite the late change of throw-in time and venue. Patrick McBrearty (0-8) was once more the star of the show for the Tir Chonail men as they booked a final date with four-in-a-row-chasing Cavan next Wednesday night.

The first half was keenly contested but the winners rolled up their sleeves to take a 0-7 to 0-4 lead into the break.

Ryan McHugh opened the scoring when he flashed a goal chance over the bar but Miceal McKenna replied for the Orchard County. McBrearty hit the target from a free but this time it was Joe McElroy who supplied the Armagh equaliser.

And, when McBrearty pointed on the turn, Ciaron O'Hanlon hit a screamer off the outside of his right boot to level the scores for the third time, 0-3 each. But Ryan McHugh's pointed free had Donegal in front at the end of the first quarter.

A brace from McBrearty made it double scores and Ciaran Thompson added a seventh Donegal point in the 23rd minute. Paul McGeown's pointed free for the Orchard boys was the last score of the opening period.

McBrearty opened the second-half scoring from a free but Armagh replied through McKenna. Callum Cumiskey's frees saw the gap come down to one but Donegal moved away again with scores from Marty O'Reilly and Ryan McHugh (free): 0-10 to 0-7.

O'Hanlon, McBrearty and Cumiskey chipped in with scores at both ends as Donegal led by two, 0-11 to 0-9, with just ten minutes remaining.

Goalkeeper David O'Hagan kept Armagh in it with a decent save but the reprieve was short-lived as the inimitable McBrearty scored a point himself and then turned provider in setting up O'Reilly, 0-13 to 0-9 with only a few minutes left.

Armagh's woes were compounded when midfielder Aaron Findlon was sent off for a second yellow card offence right at the death and Donegal added injury-time insurance points from McBrearty and Darach O'Connor.

Donegal - J Coll; C Brennan, C Parke, A McCloskey; M O'Reilly (0-2), R McHugh (0-3, 2f), G Gallagher; H McFadden, C Thompson (0-1); D Mulgrew, P McBrearty (0-8, 4f), E Doherty; J O'Malley, W Gillespie, E McHugh. Subs: D O'Connor (0-1) for J O'Malley, B McNelis for C Thompson, B Griffin for W Gillespie.

Armagh - David O'Hagan; D O'Neill, S Kelly, C McCooey; Diarmuid O'Hagan, M Murphy, J McElroy (0-1); A Findon, B Malone; P McGeown (0-2f), M McKenna (0-2), C Cumiskey (0-2, 1f); E English, C O'Hanlon (0-3), J Hall. Subs: C Hoey for M Murphy, C McKenna for J Hall, P Crilly for Diarmuid O'Hagan, F Burns for C McCooey, J Grugan for E English, M Carson for C Cumiskey.

Referee - R Barry. Tweet

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