Galway breezed past Donegal in a blustery encounter at Salthill today to give them their first defeat of the 2025 Allianz League.
Galway 0-21 Donegal 0-14
Seven two pointers for Galway in the opening half decided this Allianz League Division 1 game at windswept Pearse Stadium in Salthill, Galway.
Shane Walsh gave an exhibition of kicking on the day and Galway always seemed to be much more up for the game against a Donegal team that were without some of their first choice players.
Donegal remain on six points in the league but Jim McGuinness won’t be too concerned by this setback, as he got a good look at some of his panel members.
Galway finished with 13 men after getting two black cards at different times in the second half.
Galway took full advantage of the galeforce wind with Shane Walsh, in particular, to the fore. Walsh put Galway on their way with the first two pointer on two minutes,
Four more two pointers followed with Matthew Tierney, Conor Flaherty, Shane Walsh and Rob Finnerty (f).
Donegal had little of the ball Daniel O’Flaherty and Rob Finnerty getting the first normal value points for the Galwegians to put them 0-12 to 0-0 ahead on 22 minutes.
Oisin Gallen thought he had Donegal’s opening point but his effort somehow met a gale and dropped into the keeper Conor Flaherty’s hands.
Donegal’s Oisín Gallen tries to set up a first half attack during Sunday’s game. Photo Evan Logan
Shane Walsh then hit two more two pointers (one free) and Liam Silke added a minor on 27 minutes to stretch the lead to 0-17 to 0-0.
Shaun Patton denied Cein Hernon with a brilliant save and with five minutes on the first half clock Conor O’Donnell got Donegal’s only point of the half from a free after Oisin Gallen was fouled.
There was a moment of controversy in the final seconds when Matthew Tierney was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Hugh McFadden in the middle of the field.
Donegal’s Hugh McFadden watches his shot during Sunday’s game. Photo Evan Logan
Half-time: Donegal 0-1, Galway 0-17.
Dáire Ó Baoill opened the second half with a two pointer but Donegal were struggling to put enough cohesive moves together. Shane Walsh replied almost immediately for the home side.
Conor O’Donnell had another minor while Eoghan Ban Gallagher was denied with a goal chance before O Baoill hit another two pointer.
Donegal’s Conor O’Donnell on the attack during Sunday’s game. Photo Evan Logan
Shane Walsh hit a wonderful free on 50 minutes to leave his side still 13 points to the good before Ciaran Thompson, Oisin Gallen and O Baoill hit three in-a-row and Peadar Mogan cut the lead to eight with nine minutes left.
But then Walsh hit another brilliant free and John Maher added another despite being fouled.
Donegal did finish well with points from Shane O’Donnell, another two pointer from O Baoill and a driving effort from Ciaran Thompson but they were never able to bridge the gap.
Galway scorers: Shane Walsh 0-11,3tp,1tpf,2f; Robert Finnerty 0-2,1tpf; Conor Flaherty 0-2,tp; Matthew Tierney 0-2,tp; Daniel O’Flaherty, Liam Silke, John Maher 0-1 each.
Donegal scorers: Dáire Ó Baoill 0-7,3tp; Ciaran Thompson, Conor O’Donnell (1f) 0-2 each; Oisin Gallen, Peadar Mogan, Shane O’Donnell 0-1 each.
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Eoin McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Ciaran Moore; Hugh McFadden, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride; Odhran Doherty, Dáire Ó Baoill, Jamie Brennan; Shane O’Donnell, Oisin Gallen, Conor O’Donnell.
Subs: Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Ciaran Thompson, Niall O’Donnell for O Doherty, Mac Giolla Bhride and E McHugh (all ht); Charles McGuinness and Jeaic Mac Ceallabhui for Brennan and McFadden (57)
Galway: Conor Flaherty; Johnny McGrath, Sean Kelly, Daniel O’Flaherty; Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Liam Silke; Cein Hernon, John Maher; Cathal Sweeney, Sam O’Neill, Cein Darcy; Robert Finnerty, Matthew Tierney, Shane Walsh.
Subs: Connor Gleeson for Flaherty (ht); Finian O Laoi for O’Neill (43); Jack Glynn for Fitzgerald; Sean Mulkerrin for Hernon; Matthew Thompson for Finnerty
Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)
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