Donegal proved their worth in the second half as they pulled away to win easily against Fermanagh at O'Donnell Park in Letterkenny.
It was a third win out of three in Division 2 for Jim McGuinness' side and they look well on track for an instant return to the top-flight.
While Donegal had eight different scorers, it was half-back Dáire Ó Baoill who stole the show with three fine first-half points followed by two goals in the second period.
Conditions at O’Donnell Park were almost perfect at the start of the game with no wind or rain although the latter did arrive at half time.
Fermanagh opened with two bad wides, while Donegal also had seven shots off target in the opening 35 minutes.
The star of the half was Donegal’s wing-back Ó Baoill, who kicked three brilliant long-range scores, the middle one the highlight, a looping effort with a golfer’s draw from close on 45m which drew the sides level at 0-04 apiece on 26 minutes.
Fermanagh were very strong in defence and got off to a good start with two Sean Cassidy points, one from a free.
From there until the final score of the half from Ó Baoill, it was almost score for score. Three consecutive points came via marks, two from Fermanagh’s Declan McCusker and Cassidy with McBrearty replying for Donegal.
Oisin Gallen put Donegal ahead for the first time on 28 minutes after Lee Cullen fouled Ryan McHugh. Conor McGee replied with a brilliant effort before Ó Baoill fittingly had the final score of the half to leave it Donegal 0-06 Fermanagh 0-05 at the break.
Brandon Horan had Fermanagh level inside a minute of the restart, but two Donegal subs hit back, with Mark Curran and Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí on target.
Aaron Doherty had an effort saved by Ross Bogue but then the Fermanagh 'keeper was caught way off his line and Ó Baoill finished expertly from distance to put daylight between the sides.
It took a Josh Largo Elis save on the line to deny McHugh as Donegal enjoyed a rampant period with the rain now pouring down.
Another long ball set Ó Baoill on his way again and he combined with McHugh to fire home Donegal’s second goal after 50 minutes.
Peadar Mogan added to the lead while Fermanagh had a good goal chance when Shane McGullion broke clear, but he pulled his effort well wide.
Aaron Doherety, Mac Ceallabhuí and McBrearty stretched the lead before Diarmuid King replied for Kieran Donnelly’s visitors.
Tiarnan Bogue had Fermanagh’s third of the half, but it was cancelled by efforts from Doherty and McBrearty.
Gallen then landed the final point as Donegal ran out very convincing winners.
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Kevin McGettigan, Brendan McCole, Stephen McMenamin; Ryan McHugh, Ciaran Moore, Dáire Ó Baoill (2-03); Ciarán Thompson, Caolan McGonagle; Peadar Mogan (0-01), Odhran Doherty, Michael Langan (0-01); Patrick McBrearty (0-03, 0-01f), Oisin Gallen (0-03, 0-02fs), Jamie Brennan.
Subs: Mark Curran (0-01) for McGettigan (ht), Aaron Doherty (0-02) for Brennan (ht), Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí (0-02) for Thompson (38), Hugh McFadden for Moore (54), Luke McGlynn for O Doherty (57); Domhnall MacGiolla Bhride for Langan (63).
Fermanagh: Ross Bogue; Lee Cullen, Ché Cullen, Oisin Smyth; Declan McCusker (0-01, 0-01 mark), Shane McGullion, Josh Largo Elis; Brandon Horan (0-01), Joe McDade; Conor McGee (0-01), Ronan McCaffrey, Conor McShea; Ultán Kelm, Garvan Jones, Sean Cassidy (0-03, 0-01mark, 0-01free).
Subs: Diarmuid King (0-01) for G Jones (53); Tiarnan Bogue (0-01, 0-01 mark) for McCaffrey (53), Cian McManus for Largo Elis (53); Callum Jones for Horan (61); James McMahon for McShea (72).
Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford).
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