Jim McGuinness says he's happy to come out on top of their Ulster Championship opener against Derry, but he's expecting a different type of challenge in the games ahead.
The Tír Chonall men ended up comfortable 10-point winners in Ballybofey, reacting to a bright Derry start to the second half in ruthless fashion.
Dáire Ó Baoill impressed with a goal and two two-pointers, while experienced duo Patrick McBrearty and Michael Murphy received late calls up, and both contributed on the scoreboard.
"We're just delighted to get through a big game here," he said on RTÉ's The Sunday Game afterwards.
"I'm delighted for the people of Donegal that have come in their droves today and to get that opportunity now to go into the first round proper is big for us."
Derry started the game in ponderous fashion, slowing the ball down and going laterally as they tried to find holes in the Donegal cover.
It worked for 25 minutes, before McGuinness' men conjured up the last seven points of the half to take control.
The gap was back to two inside four minutes of the restart, but Donegal would outscore Derry by 0-13 to 0-05 for the rest of the game to win pulling up.
That slow build up play by the Oak Leaf county is not something McGuinness expects to see the next day against Monaghan.
"We're just chatting about it in the dressing room there, and we don't think that will be the case," he said when it was suggested teams might adopt a similar approach in the future.
"We don't think that most other teams... [they] won't be that. A lot of teams are moving the ball very quickly.
"They're not as conscientious in establishing an attack. They're moving it very quickly. They're looking to play transitional football all the time.
"Derry really know what they want to do. They know who they have outside the 45 and when those players need to engage, Ethan Doherty taking other players into it.
"So I'm not sure the championship will show us that, but it'll be interesting to see how it develops."
Derry manager Paddy Tally felt his side weren't consistent enough to win the game, despite starting both halves well.
"We missed a penalty, which is vital at the stage," he said.
"It gave Donegal a great lift. We should have been putting ourselves into a bit of a lead there; that didn't happen.
"Donegal had a strong push before half time but then we came back out in the second half and got it back to two, and we looked to be in the ascendency.
FT: DON 1-25 DER 1-15
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Paddy tally says his side started both the first and second halves well, but that crucial missed penalty gave Donegal a boost.
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"It was right with us, we were in really good shape. Then we gave away a poor free, tackling the man on the mark, and we couldn't get our hands on the ball for the next 10 minutes.
"Donegal went into the lead and after that it was very difficult to get back into the match.
"The kickouts were vital. Shaun Patton's kickouts were outstanding while, on our side, a lot of the kickouts were 50-50. That really determines the modern game, it's based on kickouts.
"The lads fought until the very end and they're disappointed with the scoreline. I don't think it was as bad as the scoreline suggests."
