Donegal were always in control in a lacklustre affair at a windswept Ballyshannon.

A goal from Conal Dunne on seven minutes gave them an early boost and they led by 1-6 to 0-1 after 14 minutes of the game.

St Mary's found the going tough and although Donegal failed to raise another flag in the opening half, they still went into the break leading by 1-6 to 0-4.

A second goal from Colm McFadden three minutes into the second half ended the contest and, even though St Mary's added five second-half points, Paddy McNulty scored the final goal for Donegal with a minute remaining.

It was a red-letter day for Donegal duo Brian Roper and Damien Diver, who both played their 100th senior game for their county.

DONEGAL: M Boyle; S Carr, N McGee, D Diver; G Maguire, K Cassidy, B Dunnion; E Sweeney (0-1), N Gallagher; R Bradley (0-4, two frees), S McDermott (0-1), B Roper (0-1); C McFadden (1-0), P McNulty (1-1), C Dunne (1-1). Subs: B Boyle for Sweeney, S Cassidy for McFadden, M Hegarty for Dunne, A Sweeney for McDermott.

ST MARY'S: K Murray; C McAleer, F Donnelly, G Smyth; M McCullagh, J McMahon, M McKeever (0-1); D Gordon, J Lavery; L O'Hare, L Meenan (0-4, three frees), T O'Neill; R Keenan, M Donnelly (0-1), D McCann (0-1, free). Subs: A McCarron (0-1) for O'Hare; T Hackett for McAleer, S Lafferty (0-1) for Cann, N McVeigh for Lavery, J McCullagh for M McCullagh.

Referee: S McNamee (Tyrone).