Donegal got off to an encouraging start to their campaign at the Athletic Grounds, Armagh, yesterday - thanks to their opponents. It was the Orchard county's generosity of spirit in the second half - they set the ball on a plate on numerous occasions for their visitors - that helped Donegal to turn a five point deficit into a victory. Donegal, buoyed by the efforts of Brian Roper and Adrian Sweeney, were much more enterprising yet contrived to shoot a dozen wides in the second period, and had to wait until two minutes from the end before securing their win with a well hit John Gildea effort.

They held Armagh scoreless from the 40th minute, tying the home attack up efficiently and capitalised on a series of elementary errors as their hosts attempted to adhere to a short passing strategy with disastrous consequences. Armagh led by 0-7 to 0-2 after 23 minutes with Stephen McDonnell and Patrick McKeever shouldering the scoring responsibility but three Donegal points before the break, two from Brendan Devenney and one from James Gallagher, pegged Armagh back to 0-7 to 0-5 at half time.

Yet, when Stephen McDonnell, his team's best forward, clipped over two further points Armagh looked capable of combating the strong wind and regaining their poise. But it was Donegal who called all the shots for the remainder of the game. Despite a superb performance by Paul McGrane at midfield and defiant defensive work by John Toal and Andrew McCann, Donegal gained a solid foothold with Roper's clever roaming and the probing of Jim McGuinness crucial factors in their armoury. It was Brian Roper who initiated their rehabilitation with a fine point and when he followed up with a second Donegal found themselves just one point adrift.

It was the energetic Sweeney who brought the sides level with four minutes to go and when yet another Armagh transgression paved the way for Gildea, he looped over the score that sent Donegal home with two points to their credit but in the knowledge that much more formidable obstacles loom on the horizon.

ARMAGH: B Tierney; E McNulty, G Reid, M McNeill; J Toal, K McGeeney (0-1), A McCann; J Byrne (0-1), P McGrane; P McKeever (0-2), P Watters, M McCrory; S McDonnell (0-4), D Mackin (0-1), D Wilson. Subs: B Skelton for Wilson; M Murray for Watters.

DONEGAL: T Blake; M Crossan, R Sweeney, N McCready; D Diver, O Reid (0-1), N McGinley; S Carr, J McGuinness; M Hegarty, J Gildea (0-1), B Roper (0-3); J Gallagher (0-2), A Sweeney (0- 1), B Devenney (0-2). Subs: J Scanlon for Crossan; B Monaghan for Carr; M Guram for Hegarty; M Caulfield for Gallagher.

Referee: M Convery (Derry).