Declan Bonner was keeping his feet firmly on the ground after Donegal opened their Ulster SFC campaign with an impressive victory over Cavan.

The Tir Chonaill men put behind them the disappointment of Allianz League relegation in the spring to put 2-20 past the visitors in what was a surprisingly free-flowing encounter in Ballybofey.

"It was a real game, an open game," the Donegal manager enthused in the Irish News.

"Listen, there's going to be tougher tests ahead and we know that, and we know we have to improve in certain areas and we'll go back and we will work on that.

"We just have to see what's going on at training, the training's been very intense. I'm doing it at a very high level and those are the guys we picked, guys who are on form. We've a very good record here in MacCumhaill Park and we want to keep that.

"There was a nice crowd here, a good day for championship football and at times we did play really good football. Other things we have to improve."

Bonner expressed the hope that defender Paddy McGrath and forward Odhran Mac Niallais would be back from injury for the Ulster SFC quarter-final against Derry on May 27.

"They are very close, but they've missed the last number of weeks. It's just trying to get them up to speed now in a short space of time. We'll get back training now and take it from there.

"There's plenty of guys to come back into it yet and we need the big squad because the games are going to come thick and fast."

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