Shane Walsh of Galway in action against Brendan McCole of Donegal during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Galway and Donegal at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.
Allianz Football League Division One
Galway 0-21 (0-7-7) Donegal 0-14 (0-3-8)
By Billy Coss at Pearse Stadium
They played the second 35 minutes with 14 men following Matthew Tierney's dismissal, and another half of it with just 13 owing to a pair of black cards, but Galway’s status as the two-point kings of the National Football League ultimately banked enough scores to hand Donegal their first defeat of the campaign and dislodge them from top spot in Division 1.
Shane Walsh maintained his terrific start to 2025 with his shooting outside the arc contributing four more two-pointers, three coming from play - taking his overall total up to 12. Tierney, Rob Finnerty and 'keeper Conor Flaherty also got in on the act with orange flags as the hosts ran up an unanswered 17-point advantage while backed by a gale whipping in from the Árus Bothar na Trá end.
Conor O'Donnell's 30th minute free saved Donegal from ending the half without any tangible return and their prospects further improved when Tierney picked up a straight red from referee David Coldrick seconds before the break following a challenge on Hugh McFadden.
Galway adapted best with and against the elements but would lose Daniel O'Flaherty and later Finnian Ó Laoi to black cards in the second half. However, the finishing of Walsh kept their tally ticking over as Donegal struggled to build flow or momentum.
Tellingly, the margin never dipped below eight points. 0-17 to 0-1 at the break became 0-19 to 0-6 on 51 minutes and 0-19 to 0-11 just after the hour mark. With a couple of two-pointers to his name, Daire Ó Baoill carried the biggest threat for the visitors who were missing last week’s man of the match Paddy McBrearty, Ryan McHugh and Michael Murphy.
Peadar Mogan kicked another from range and Shane O'Donnell, Ó Baoill and Ciaran Thompson all added final quarter points, but the Tribesmen held firm despite their numerical disadvantage and claimed a valuable bounceback victory following last week's draw in Derry.
Captain Seán Kelly and John Maher were others to impress for the winners as they leapfrogged Donegal and Dublin to move to the summit of the table ahead of Tyrone's visit to Tuam Stadium next Sunday.
Donegal, meanwhile, welcome Derry to Fr. Tierney Park, Ballyshannon for what will be their fifth straight weekend of action.
Scorers for Galway: Shane Walsh 0-11 (3 2pt, 1 2ptf); Rob Finnerty 0-3 (1 2ptf); Matthew Tierney (2pt) and Conor Flaherty (2 pt) 0-2 each; Daniel O'Flaherty, John Maher and Liam Silke 0-1 each.
Scorers for Donegal: Daire Ó Baoill 0-6 (2 2pt), Peadar Mogan (1 2pt), Conor O'Donnell (1f) and Ciaran Thompson 0-2 each; Oisín Gallen and Shane O'Donnell 0-1 each.
Galway: Conor Faherty; Johnny McGrath, Seán Fitzgerald, Daniel O'Flaherty; Dylan McHugh, Liam Silke, Seán Kelly (captain); Cian Hernon, John Maher; Matthew Tierney, Céin D'Arcy, Cathal Sweeney; Rob Finnerty, Shane Walsh, Sam O'Neill. Subs: Connor Gleeson for Flaherty (HT), Finnian Ó Laoi for O'Neill (44), Jack Glynn for Fitzgerald (44); Seán Mulkerrin for Hernon (51); Matthew Thompson for Finnerty (61).
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Eoin McHugh, Caolan McGonagle (captain), Ciaran Moore; Hugh McFadden, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde; Odhran Doherty, Dáire Ó Baoill, Jamie Brennan; Conor O’Donnell, Oisín Gallen, Shane O’Donnell. Subs: Eoghan Bán Gallagher for Eoin McHugh (HT), Ciaran Thompson for Mac Giolla Bhríde (HT), Niall O'Donnell for Doherty (HT), Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí for McFadden (57), Charles McGuinness for Brennan (57).
Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).
