Donegal turned in a competent second-half showing to overcome Clare 0-14 to 0-09 in the first Group 4 game of the All-Ireland round-robin championship.
It might have been different following an awkward opening 35 minutes, when Shaun Patton made a vital save from Keelan Sexton, which would have put Clare six in front.
However, Donegal's quality started to shine through the longer the game went on with Ciaran Thompson and Oisin Gallen ending up with four points apiece.
Clare settled well, with Sexton twisting to score and Pearse Lillis punching over before adding a second for a 0-03 to 0-00 lead inside 10 minutes.
Donegal sat with 14 back initially and only Gallen up the field, although there was a lack of intensity in defence and the build-up in attack was too slow.
Thompson opened the visitors’ account, although an Eoin Cleary free restored Clare’s three-point lead.
Almost half an hour was played when Gallen rounded off a Donegal move of genuine quality, moving the ball at speed in from the left. However, Clare hit back within seconds with Emmet McMahon kicking from distance.
Eoghan Bán Gallagher hit back with a point and then, three minutes before half-time, made an incisive run which cut through Clare from Jamie Brennan’s lay-off. Gallagher’s only sin was the fact he was probably too unselfish, giving off a pass to his right to the well-placed John Ross Molloy. The corner-back and championship debutant, right in front of goal, fumbled and the chance was gone.
Clare led 0-06 to 0-03 at the break, with the wide count level at six each.
Donegal needed a more commanding start to part two than they managed in part one. Gallen, firstly, and then Thompson delivered to give the few hardcore fans who made the trek down the west reason to raise their voices.
McMahon got Clare's first point of the second half on 47 minutes, although the steam of the tide was still Donegal’s, with Thompson and then McGonagle levelling it up at 0-07 to 0-07 by the time the third quarter was over.
Wides at both ends deflated the spectacle, although it was still there for both with the clock ticking down.
Donegal hit seven more scores in the last 12 minutes, with Hugh McFadden getting them in front for the first time. Clare were stacking up the wides and only managed three points in the second half, with Darragh Bohannon and Aaron Griffin hitting their last scores.
At the other end, Donegal, more direct and showing much more legs than was considered a part of their Ulster championship loss to Down in Newry, kept the scoreboard going with Gallen, Thompson, Caolan McGonagle, Luke McGlynn and Rory O’Donnell all popping over for a confidence-boosting win.
Clare: Stephen Ryan; Ronan Lanigan, Cillian Brennan, Cillian Rouine; Ciarán Russell, Jamie Malone, Cian O’Dea; Cathal O’Connor, Darren O’Neill; Daniel Walsh, Emmet McMahon [0-02, 0-01f], Pearse Lillis [0-02]; Eoin Cleary [0-02, 0-02fs], Keelan Sexton [0-01], Podge Collins.
Subs: Darragh Bohannon [0-01] for Collins (22), Aaron Griffin [0-01] for O’Connor (48) Brian McNamara for O’Neill (53), Ikem Ugweu for Walsh (68), Mark McInerney for O’Dea (68).
Donegal: Shuan Patton; Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, John Ross Molloy; Caolan Ward, Eoghan Bán Gallagher [0-01], Odhran Doherty; Caolan McGonagle [0-02], Rory O’Donnell [0-01]; Daire Ó Baoill, Jamie Brennan, Ciarán Thomspon [0-04]; Oisin Gallen [0-04], Hugh McFadden [0-01].
Subs: Jason McGee for Molloy (ht), Caolan McColgan for Ward (49), Luke McGlynn [0-01] for C O’Donnell (55), Marty O’Reilly for O'Doherty (70+3).
Referee: James Molloy (Galway).
