James Doonan argues with referee Paddy Russell

Donegal had the perfect opening five minutes when they scored 1-3 without reply.

Cavan must have thought back to the NFL final when Tyrone were virtually out of sight in the opening half.

The clock had only moved over a minute when a sweeping movement from deep was brillaintly finished by Brian Roper as he bulged the roof of the net.

Three minutes later Devenney began his impressive contribution when he slotted over the first point from open play.

It was Adrian Sweeney's turn to baffle Cavan when he banged over two points from wide.

The first was a fifth minute effort from the left, then went over to the right to double his effort.

Slowly, but surely, Cavan began to find their feet in the face of the Donegal hurricane.

Finished stronger

First, debutant Pierson rattled over a couple of points and that was quickly followed by another by Larry Reilly.

But Jason Reilly saw a punched effort come back off the bar.

Cavan's run was halted by Devenney whose pace was causing opponents all sorts of problems.

He casually knocked over his second point on the 19th minute.

Donegal's Kevin Cassidy showed real class when he dummied to kick with his right, and calmly rifle over the point from wide out with his left.

Sweeney grabbed his third point in the 23rd minute, but a double by Pierson had Cavan trailing 0-4 to 1-6.

But it was Donegal who finished the half the stronger, even though they were reduced to 14 men when John Haran was shown the red card for use of the elbow on James Doonan.

Michael Hegarty, Jim McGuinness and Devenney again all scored with skipper Anthony Forde replying for Cavan.

Cavan's Dermot McCabe tries to burst clear

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Devenney knocked over his fifth point three minutes on the resumption, but it was Cavan who slowly clawed back the leeway.

Pierson was on target with four points, only one from play, while Peter Reilly also chipped in as Cavan narrowed the gap to four points.

However, Devenney broke the spell with Donegal's first point for 15 minutes from a angled free.

Cavan's case was not helped when Thomas Prior received his marching orders after his second yellow card in the 55th minute.

His foul was punished by Sweeney who collected his fourth point.

From then on in it was exhibition stuff from Donegal as Michael Hegarty knocked over a couple of points, Sweeney another with Devenney finishing with seven points.

Cavan: A Donohue, E Reilly, T Prior, C Hannon, M Brides, A Forde (capt) (0-2), J Doonan, P McKenna, C Collins, D Rabbitt, P Reilly (0-1), G Pierson (0-10), L Reilly (0-1), J Reilly, P Galligan. Substitute: B McGrudden (0-1)

Donegal: T Blake, S Carr, M Crossan, N McGinley, R Sweeney, B Monaghan, K Cassidy (0-1), J Gildea, P McGonigle, J Haran, M Hegarty (0-3), J McGuinness (0-1), A Sweeney (0-5), B Devenney (0-7), B Roper (1-0).

Referee: Paddy Russell (Tipperary).

Sunday's Championship fixtures:
Ulster SFC:
Cavan 0-15 1-17 Donegal
Clones (1845): Monaghan v Fermanagh
Leinster SFC:
Louth 3-17 1-12 Longford
Carlow 0-10 1-14 Westmeath
Munster SFC
Limerick 1-7 0-14 Kerry
Waterford 2-9 3-10 Clare
Ulster SHC
Down 3-22 1-9 London
Leinster SHC
Meath 2-16 1-18 Laois
Westmeath 1-12 2-12 Dublin