Donegal need 'big improvements' despite win over Down

Donegal captain Patrick McBrearty insists his side must make "big improvements" if they are to overcome Armagh in the Ulster SFC final after beating Down in Sunday's semi-final in Clones.

The holders saw off Down 1-19 to 0-16 but the Mournemen passed up three goal chances that would have made life difficult for Jim McGuinness' side.

And McBrearty says Donegal must find another level in order to secure a repeat of last year's provincial decider success over the Orchard County.

"Job done. We knew coming into today, it was a very capable Down team," man of the match McBrearty told BBC Sport NI after scoring 1-4 against Down.

"We were probably a bit tetchy for the first 15 minutes but I thought we found our groove then and settled into the game and got the goal obviously.

"But big, big lessons to learn from today and big improvements if we're going to beat Armagh in the Ulster final."

He added: "I think we played them [Armagh] three times last year and there was only a point in it over so many hundred minutes.

"We know Armagh and they know us and it's going to come down to inches. It's how we prepare now until Sunday week but it's great to be involved in those types of days."

Armagh booked their place in a third straight Ulster final on Saturday with a 0-23 to 0-22 win over Tyrone and McBrearty admits Kieran McGeeney's side looked "very impressive".

"It went down to the wire and they showed great character," he said.

"Most other teams would have folded but Armagh have been in big games in recent years and have that big-game experience and they showed it last night."