By Patrick Sharkey at MacCumhail Park,
A quick-fire goal by Langan thanks to a Finbar Roarty pass set Donegal on the front foot early. Jeaic MacCeallbhui got a rebounded shot with nine minutes over the bar. However, Armagh still showed ambition but their defensive powers couldn’t stop Aaron Doherty from scoring with 10 minutes gone. John Sherdin however got the first point for Armagh and Joe McClelland quickly followed with the second one in the 17th minute.
The 22nd minute saw Kevin McGettigan get a goal to put Donegal six points ahead with 35 minutes to go. The 24th minute saw Paddy Carr fist the ball he got past Shaun Patton.
Micheal Langan however put out the fire in the 25th minute with a point to put Donegal four points ahead. McBrearty hit one over in the 27th minute. Callum O’Neill then got a point that was cancelled by Langan in the 32nd minute. Micheal Langan then another one to settle it before the break. The halftime score read Donegal 2-6 Armagh 1-3. It was a good first-half performance for the hills but Armagh held their own for a youthful side.
Oisín Gallen came out of the blocks in the second half and got a Donegal goal. However, Langan then failed to convert his shot two minutes into the second half. Caoaln McGonagle came to the fore in the 39th minute as the sub got a point. Brendan O Hagan then got a 41st-minute point as the dual star kept Armagh in it but Oisin Gallen then got three points to his name in a row. Micheal Lanagan however got a point with 20 minutes on the clock remaining before Gallen got another. Odhran Doherty then made himself known with a point 18 minutes of the second half gone. Brendan O Hagan then scored from his second free kick.
Brendan O’Hagan then managed to get an Armagh point on the 65th-minute mark. Peadar Mogan then however got his first point of the night. With one minute left of ordinary time, Oisin Gallen then got another two points. The full-time score was Donegal 3-16 Armagh 1-6.
Donegal: Shaun Patton, Finbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Kevin McGettigan, Ryan McHugh, Jeaic MacCeallbhui, Ciáran Moore, Jason McGee, Michael Langan, Oisín Caulfield, Ciarán Thompson, Dáire O Baoill, Aaron Doherty, Patrick McBrearty, Senan Carr
Armagh: Rhys Stephens, Cathal Agnew, Sam McClarnon, Connor Magennis, Emmet Magee, Sean McCarthy, Joe Sheridan, Tadhg Grimely, Paddy Carr, Sean Conlon, Brendan O’Hagan, Callum O’Neill, Cianan Campbell, Daniel Magee, Michael McConville
GAA Zone 