After all the controversy about suspensions being overturned it was Donegal who came out on top in the big clash against Armagh in MacCumhaill Park.
The home side took control just before the break and a Paddy McBrearty goal in the 46th minute more or less settled the tie.
Shane O'Donnell was making his championship debut for Donegal while Armagh joint captain Aidan Nugent did not start with Conor Turbitt replacing him.
In an intriguing first half there was little between the sides. Eoghan Bán Gallagher set the tone with a blazing run and fisted point on 57 seconds.
The opening quarter saw eight points shared. Michael Murphy (two frees) and Jason McGee had the other Donegal scores while Jarly Og Burns got through to fist the opener for Armagh who added points through Tiernan Kelly, Rory Grugan (free) and Conor Turbitt.
Grugan put Armagh ahead on 19 minutes but in the second quarter Donegal, despite hitting five wides and dropping two short, got on the front foot.
Michael Langan levelled before Murphy, with one from play and one free, opened a two-point gap.
Rory Grugan availed of a soft free to reduce the margin but in the final five minutes points from Patrick McBrearty (free) and Ciaran Thompson had Donegal ahead by three at the break, 0-09 to 0-06.
There was a hectic start to the second half with Rian O'Neill winning the ball a yard from the Donegal goal but he was bundled up and then an O'Neill free from 50m came back off the upright and Shaun Patton made a point blank stop from Aidan Nugent, who was introduced at half-time.
It took nine minutes for the first score with Shane O'Donnell going through the middle to point. O'Donnell was involved again two minutes later for a Donegal goal.
He found Patrick McBrearty who played a one-two with Caolan Ward before palming the return to the net.
Stefan Campbell had a lone reply for Armagh as they had hit six wides by the 52nd minute.
Michael Murphy replied but two quick points from Ben Crealey and a Grugan free cut the lead to five in the 56th minute but almost immediately Michael Langan hit back for Donegal.
Oisin O'Neill fisted an Armagh point but Patrick McBrearty responded with six minutes of normal time left. Rory Grugan pointed before Michael Murphy put Michael Langan through but with the goal at his mercy, he blazed over.
Murphy and Conor O'Donnell added to the tally while Greg McCabe replied for Armagh two minutes into added time.
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Caolan Ward, Brendan McCole, Stephen McMenamin; Peadar Mogan, Eoghan Bán Gallagher (0-01), Ryan McHugh; Hugh McFadden, Jason McGee (0-01); Ciaran Thompson (0-01), Shane O'Donnell (0-01), Michael Langan (0-03); Patrick McBrearty (1-02,f), Michael Murphy (0-06, 0-04f), Jamie Brennan.
Subs: Caolan McGonagle for J McGee (51); Conor O'Donnell (0-01) for Thompson (54); Niall O'Donnell for H McFadden (60); Paul Brennan for S O'Donnell (67); Aaron Doherty for Brennan (70+3).
Armagh: Ethan Rafferty; James Morgan, Aidan Forker, Aaron McKay; Connaire Mackin, Greg McCabe (0-01), Jarly Og Burns (0-01); Niall Grimley, Ben Crealey (0-01); Jemar Hall, Rory Grugan (0-05,0-03f), Tiernan Kelly (0-01); Conor Turbitt (0-01), Rian O'Neill, Jason Duffy.
Subs: Aidan Nugent for J Duffy (ht); Stefan Campbell (0-01) for Hall (47); Oisin O'Neill (0-01) for C Mackin (50); Ross McQuillan for Forker (61)
Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)
