Unbeaten Galway power past Donegal in Division One

A flurry of two pointers put Galway, who had the wind advantage, firmly in control

Galway made the most of a first-half wind advantage to defeat Donegal 0-21 to 0-14 and maintain their unbeaten start in Division One.

With a strong win in their favour, All-Ireland finalists Galway made a blistering start at Pearse Stadium.

Shane Walsh (two), Conor Flaherty and Matthew Tierney all struck two-pointers inside the opening 15 minutes to open up an eight-point lead.

Robert Finnerty added another two-pointer and Daniel Flaherty landed a point, before Donegal goalkeeper Shaun Patton denied Cian Herron after Galway worked a goal chance.

Finnerty helped himself to another two-pointer before Walsh's set of two kicks from outside the arc and Liam Silke's point moved the hosts 17 points clear without reply.

Jamie Brennan eventually got Donegal on the board in the 29th minute as Jim McGuinness' side finally got a period of possession, and Brennan almost grabbed a goal moments later, but his attempt was cleared.

There was a big talking point in the final play of the half as Matthew Tierney was sent off by referee David Coldrick for a high shoulder charge into Hugh McFadden as Galway went into the changing rooms with a 0-17 to 0-1 advantage.

Donegal fightback falls short

With the breeze now in their favour, Conor O'Donnell got Donegal up and running after the restart with two points, but Shane Walsh hit an immediate response for Galway.

Brennan grabbed his second point and Donegal were denied a goal as Connor Gleeson kept out Domnhall McBride.

Daire O Baoill clawed another two points back for Donegal, but another Walsh point kept the Tribesmen in control midway through the second half despite being down to 13 players following Daniel O'Flaherty's black card.

Odhran Doherty, Oisin Gallen and O'Donnell all landed scores to bring Galway's lead down to 10 points, before Donegal finally took advantage of the new two-point rule as Peadar Morgan's effort reduced that margin to eight.

Walsh's ninth point of the game and a score from John Maher halted Donegal's momentum and, crucially, gave Galway the buffer required to see out the win before Shane O'Donnell, O Baoill and Ciaran Thompson landed consolation points in the closing stages.

Donegal will look to respond against neighbours Derry on 2 March while Galway, who now top Division One, host Tyrone.