Donegal manager Declan Bonner was happy to finally see off Cavan in Sunday's Ulster SFC semi-final but admitted that his side are far from the finished article.
It was a first meeting between the pair since the Breffni men shocked Bonner's side in the 2020 provincial final, but there was no such repeat on Sunday.
Donegal manager Declan Bonner told @MartyM_RTE that he had "expected nothing else" than the tough test Cavan gave his team in their Ulster SFC semi-final win today #GAA pic.twitter.com/MQGDPkpvZs
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) May 8, 2022
This contest was close for long periods, with the sides going in level at the break, but late goals from Conor O'Donnell and Paddy McBrearty ultimately settled the tie at Clones.
"It was a tough battle but we expected nothing else from Cavan," Bonner told RTÉ's Sunday Sport afterwards.
"They've a real tough championship pedigree behind them and we know from 2020 what they bring to the table. First half was nip and tuck. It was probably good to watch but we made a lot of mistakes in the first half.
"We were getting into the final third but getting ball turned over cheaply. We got ourselves together at half time and the goal was a big turning point.
"It was fortuitous, from our point of view, but we'll take that. Some days in championship football those breaks go for you. Semi-final is all about getting over the line, and we can look forward to a final where we know we need improving."
It'll be a fourth Ulster final in five seasons for Donegal, with the county having lifted the Anglo-Celt Cup twice in that period.
They await the winners of next week's other last four clash between Monaghan and Derry.
"It was a proper championship match out there today, no quarter asked or given," Bonner added.
"Both went teams at it in a very sporting manner. Clones, nice crowd, sunny day, real championship football, great to have a crowd back in here today.
"We'll get ready now for what will be a titanic battle with whoever comes out of the other side of the draw."
For Bonner's opposite number Mickey Graham there was a sense that Cavan had been unlucky.
"I couldn't ask for much more to be honest with you, they gave it everything," he said.
"I couldn’t be more disappointed for them. The two goals were a killer. They took their goal chances and we didn’t take ours, simple as. James Smith hit the crossbar just before half-time. If that goes in it’s a three-point game.
"The pressure was all on Donegal then so we probably let them off the hook there.
"We seem to come in for a lot of stick about our league form but when it comes to championship we have shown over the last three or four years that we can compete with any of them on the day."
The Breffni men now have the inaugural Tailteann Cup to look forward to, and Graham says it's something they can build towards.
"I think the more games we can get the better, it will help us to keep developing.
"It will be an opportunity to give lads that are returning from injury more game time."
