A second-half full of purpose and intensity ensured Donegal, minus talisman Michael Murphy, recovered from a three-point half-time deficit to defeat Mayo by the minimum in an entertaining challenge match in Swinford yesterday.

Donegal preserved their Division One status after coming from behind to defeat Armagh at Ballybofey yesterday.

Donegal 0-13 Armagh 0-10, Ballybofey

A Division 1 semi-final awaits All-Ireland champions Dublin providing they win one of their remaining league ties against Mayo and Cork.

Dublin 2-16 Donegal 0-13

Donegal 1-10 Antrim 0-7

Donegal 2-11 Laois 0-16

DONEGAL’S evolution under the management of Jim McGuinness continues to take shape, although there are a few creases that need to be ironed out before Antrim return to the north-west in the Ulster championship opener in six weeks.

AN inexperienced Donegal’s grip on the Dr McKenna Cup slipped on Saturday night when they went down at home to Fermanagh, who won their first game of the John O’Neill era.

JAMIE CLARKE celebrated his 21st birthday yesterday to put the finishing touches on a weekend where he was the toast of his local ground at Oliver Plunkett Park.

Dermot Molloy will join his Under-21 colleague Michael Murphy in the Donegal full-forward line for Sunday's Ulster SFC quarter-final against Down at Ballybofey (throw-in 2pm).

TOMÁS Ó SÉ and Paul Galvin both return to the Kerry lineup for tomorrow’s NFL Division One relegation clash against Monaghan in Fitzgerald Stadium.

THE three-week sabbatical had startlingly different effects on these two sides, with Kildare looking much like their old selves and Donegal but a pale shadow of the team that steamrolled Laois last time out.

Kildare 1-17 Donegal 1-9

Donegal 1-11 Tyrone 0-12

Donegal 2-17 Tyrone 4-11