Donegal eased to a 2-11 to 0-8 victory over Armagh in resplendent sunshine at the Athletic Grounds.

With the match over as any sort of contest by the break, the winners sauntered through the second half, notching just three scores and preserving some energy for future battles. Not that this game was a battle or anything remotely resembling one.

The only downside for the rampant victors was the loss of the superb Patrick McBrearty during that dead-rubber second period to what looked like a possible hamstring problem.

Both these teams are back in action on Saturday week. Donegal will continue their relentless quest for a fourth Anglo-Celt Cup in five trophy-laden years when they meet Derry in a provincial semi-final at Clones, while Armagh are heading for last chance saloon.

Kieran McGeeney's side were insipid throughout and can have no complaints about today's result. They will need to regroup if they're to elicit any joy from their Qualifier campaign, which begins at home to either Meath or Wicklow, who are also in action this afternoon.

Today, the hosts were totally outfoxed and - even allowing for the unquestionable quality of the opposition - it's still difficult to see how they can salvage their summer. This was a truly demoralising defeat.

Rory Gallagher's charges totally bossed the first half to put the game to bed by the short whistle as they turned around with a massive ten-point lead, 1-9 to 0-2. The anticipated close contest didn't materialise; instead, it was abundantly clear that two divisions had separated these sides during the Spring.

Just the five changes before throw-in: for Armagh, Finnian Moriarty replaced Michael Murray, Stefan Campbell came in for Mark Shields and Andrew Murnin got the nod ahead of Kevin Dyas; for Donegal, Mark McHugh came in instead of Anthony Thompson and Colm McFadden made way for Martin O'Reilly.

Only two minutes in, McBrearty silenced the hitherto-vociferous home support when he opened the scoring with a goal. The influential corner forward - posted on the edge of the square - gathered a long punt from Neil Gallagher and squeezed the ball to the net soccer-style from a tight angle after seeing his initial attempt blocked by Matthew McNeice.

Gallagher and Michael Murphy (free) tagged on points as the holders led by five after seven minutes. On twelve minutes, Martin McElhinney bounced through a porous Orchard rearguard to slot a nice point off his left foot. Aaron Findon latched onto his midfield partner Ethan Rafferty's under-hit shot to fist Armagh's first point of the game in the 13th minute; Odhran MacNiallais replied with a sublime strike from an acute angle: 1-4 to 0-1 after quarter of an hour. Game over.

Murphy nonchalantly smashed over a brace of long-range frees from the deck and McBrearty spun James Morgan to flash over a superb left-footed strike as the visitors continued to dominate. The marauding Karl Lacey cancelled out Tony Kernan's point and Murphy closed the first-half scoring by scooping over a monster free from the ground from close to the halfway line. Thus concluded a nigh-on-perfect first-half display from the Tir Chonail men.

Two minutes into the second half, Armagh's luck was out when a purposeful Jamie Clarke run culminated in a shot off the butt of the right post before Stefan Campbell found the side-netting with the rebounder. Orchard centre back Ciaran McKeever popped over the first score of the second half from the right wing in the 43rd minute.

Two minutes later, O'Reilly benefited from positive probing by Murphy and Frank McGlynn to round the 'keeper and plant his shot into the corner of the Armagh net: 2-9 to 0-3. Caolan Rafferty and Ethan Rafferty (free) replied.

Kernan chipped over a free at the midway stage in the second half, with the match long since over as a meaningful contest, and Morgan danced through to hit another consolation point after Murphy had casually swept over his fifth successful trademark free.

The bearded Paul Durcan executed a fine save to deny substitute Ciaron O'Hanlon an Armagh goal; Kernan curled over a 65th-minute point off the outside of his right boot to close the gap to eight - and double scores! MacNiallais had the final say in stoppage time as the holders marched on almost effortlessly.

Donegal - P Durcan; P McGrath, N McGee, E McGee; M McHugh, K Lacey (0-1), F McGlynn; N Gallagher (0-1), M McElhinney (0-1); C Toye, O MacNiallais (0-2), R McHugh; P McBrearty (1-1), M Murphy (0-5f), M O'Reilly (1-0). Subs: A Thompson for E McGee, H McFadden for P McBrearty, D Walsh for C Toye, G McFadden for M McElhinney.

Armagh - M McNeice; F Moriarty, C Vernon, A Mallon; J Morgan (0-1), C McKeever (0-1), C Rafferty (0-2, 1f); A Findon (0-1), E Rafferty; T Kernan (0-3, 1f), M McKenna, A Forker; A Murnin, S Campbell, J Clarke. Subs: M Murray for M McKenna, K Dyas for F Moriarty, C O'Hanlon for E Rafferty, B Donaghy for A Forker, E McVerry for A Murnin, S Harold for A Findon (BC).

Referee - D Coldrick.

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