14-man Galway blow past Donegal with two-point spree
MAIN MAN; Shane Walsh kicked 11 points for Galway, including four two-pointers. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
The terms in Pearse Stadium were obvious as soon as Donegal elected to go against the wind. Galway would race out for the first half, then Donegal had to try to kick and catch them. In the end, the home side ran out comfortable seven-point victors.
They did so despite being down two men for much of the second half. Matthew Tierney received a red card just before the turnaround. Two of his team-mates picked up black cards before the final whistle. None of it troubled them.
Even by Salthill’s usual standards, the weather was absolutely torrential. A gale blew into the town end goal while sheets of rain greeted both teams for their so-called warm-up. The reality of the afternoon had set in by then, it would require an extraordinary effort to stay warm.
What followed was extraordinary, if a tad absurd. Donegal elected to go against the wind and were down 0-17 to 0-1 at half-time. Galway established their 16-point buffer with the help of seven two-pointers. They were hit for one point in the 30th minute thanks to a Conor O’Donnell free. A real blow came subsequently when Matthew Tierney was sent off for a high shoulder to Hugh McFadden. Pádraic Joyce and his management team appeared to take issue with Jim McGuinness’s protests on the sideline, but David Coldrick evidently agreed that the tackle was unacceptable.
Shane Walsh led the way from outside the arc with eight points from six shots, including one missed free and one converted. Eoin McHugh was penalised for tackling John Maher during a solo and go. Robert Finnerty floated over a two from the free.
Donegal couldn’t get anything going in the conditions. Every Shaun Patton kickout hung in the air. Their only shot from play in the entire half was an Oisin Gallen effort that looked destined to go over until the wind caught it.
Daire Ó Baoill swung over their opening two-pointer at the start of the second half. Galway elected to change goalkeepers for the second half, utilising Connor Gleeson’s big boot. Conor Flaherty came off after his first appearance for Galway since the 2022 Division 2 league final. The Claregalway man kicked a two-pointer before his withdrawal.
The tale of two-pointers continued. Peadar Mogan made the margin seven with ten minutes left. Galway were reduced to 13 players twice in the half, Daniel O’Flaherty picking up for a late hit and substitute Finnian Ó Laoi saw black for wrapping up Mark Curran late on.
Galway's game management meant they remained in control. With the clock ticking down, Ciaran Thompson blasted a shot just over the crossbar. Gleeson took his time with the kickout and eventually kicked for touch. An enormous roar greeted Donegal's first defeat of 2025.
Scorers for Galway: S. Walsh 0-11 (3 tps, 1 tpf, 2 f); R. Finnerty 0-3 (1 tpf), C. Flaherty 0-2 ( 1 tp), Tierney 0-2 (1 tp), Silke, D. O’Flaherty, J. Maher 0-1 each.
Scorers for Donegal: Ó Baoill 0-6 (2 tps); C. O’Donnell (1 free), P. Mogan(1 tp) C. Thompson 0-2 each; O. Gallen, S. O’Donnell 0-1 each.
Galway: C. Flaherty; J. McGrath, S. Fitzgerald, D. O’Flaherty; D. McHugh, S. Kelly, L. Silke; P. Conroy, J. Maher; C. Sweeney, S. O’Neill, C. D’Arcy; R. Finnerty, M. Tierney, S. Walsh.
Subs: C. Gleeson for Flaherty (half-time), J. Glynn for Fitzgerald, F Ó Laoi for O’Neill (both 44); S. Mulkerrin for Hernon (50); M. Thompson for Finnerty (60).
Black card: Daniel O’Flaherty (45—55), Finnian Ó Laoi (63).
Donegal: S Patton; M Curran, B McCole, P Mogan; E McHugh, C McGonagle, C Moore; H McFadden, D Mac Giolla Bhríde; O Doherty, D Ó Baoill, J Brennan, O Gallen, C O’Donnell, S O’Donnell.
Subs: C. Thompson for O’Donnell, E. Ban Gallagher for Mac Giolla Bhríde, N. O’Donnell for Doherty (all half-time); C. McGuinness for Moore, J. McKelvey for Brennan (59), Referee: D. Coldrick (Meath).
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