Galway maintained their unbeaten start to the Allianz League as Shane Walsh turned on a masterclass of shooting to bring Donegal's winning start to an end at Pearse Stadium despite playing two periods with just 13 men.
Galway’s Matthew Tierney was red-carded just before the interval and Daniel O’Flaherty and Finnian O Laoi were black-carded during the second half but Galway did enough to carve out a 0-21 to 0-14 win.
The Tribesmen laid the foundation for victory when they had the strong wind in the opening half and then did more than enough after the restart to contain Donegal despite the numerical disadvantage.
Galway, aided by the very strong wind, led by 0-17 to 0-01 at the interval having kicked seven two-pointers with Walsh leading the way.
Walsh went into the contest as the top two-point scorer in Division 1 with eight efforts and he added another four in the opening half, three of them from play in an exhibition of shooting.
He got his first inside two minutes followed by similar efforts from Tierney and goalkeeper Conor Flaherty, one of three late changes for Galway which also included the withdrawal of Footballer of the Year Paul Conroy.
Michael Murphy was also missing from the Donegal squad with selector Neil McGee confirming beforehand that the 35-year old, who made his return last weekend for the first time since 2022, is following a detailed plan which will probably see him return to action next week.
Galway used the wind well and the strength of the wind was apparent when an Oisin Gallen effort after ten minutes came back into play just when it seemed to be going over the bar.
Walsh got his second two-pointer with a sublime effort from 50 metres on the right to lead by 0-08 to 0-00 after 12 minutes, before Rob Finnerty added a two-point free and then one from play along with O’Flaherty to push the lead out to 12 after 21 minutes.
Two more Walsh two-pointers, one from a free on the left and the other from play on the right extended the lead before Liam Silke went forward to get his first point of the league to make it 0-17 to 0-00 after 28 minutes.
Conor O’Donnell eventually opened Donegal’s account from a 20-metre free five minutes from the break.
And then just before the interval Galway’s Tierney was red-carded for a high challenge on Hugh McFadden.
A couple of two-pointers from Daire O Baoill and one from Conor O’Donnell helped Donegal reduce the margin after the restart but Walsh responded with a couple of points for Galway to leave it 0-19 to 0-6 after 50 minutes.
But then Galway defender O’Flaherty was black-carded for an off-the-ball push on Shane O’Donnell.
That left Galway down to 13 men for ten minutes but they only conceded points to Ciaran Thompson, Oisin Gallen and O Baoill during that spell to take a 0-19 to 0-9 into the closing 13 minutes.
Peadar Mogan went forward to shoot a two-pointer but after another point from Walsh, Galway were again reduced to 13 men after 63 minutes when substitute O Laoi pulled down Mark Curran as the Donegal defender tried to come out.
But Donegal never looked like saving their unbeaten start to the campaign with Walsh and the superb John Maher extending Galway’s lead.
Shane O’Donnell, O Baoill and Thompson hit late points for Donegal but it was Galway who prevailed to capture their first home league win over them since Padraic Joyce skippered them to victory back in 2009.
Galway: Conor Flaherty (0-02, 1tp); Johnny McGrath, Sean Kelly, Daniel O’Flaherty (0-01); Dylan McHugh, Sean Fitzgerald, Liam Silke (0-01); Cian Hernon, John Maher (0-01); Cathal Sweeney, Sam O’Neill, Céin D’Arcy; Rob Finnerty (0-03, 1tp), Matthew Tierney (0-02, 1tp), Shane Walsh (0-11, 2 tpf, 2 tp, 0-02f).
Substitutes: Connor Gleeson for Flaherty (half-time), Jack Glynn for Fitzgerald (44), Finnian Ó Laoi for O’Neill (44), Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin for Hernon (50), Matthew Thompson for Finnerty (60).
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan (0-02, 1tp); Eoin McHugh, Caolan McGonigle, Ciaran Moore; Hugh McFadden, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bríde; Odhran Doherty, Daire Ó Baoill (0-06, 2 tp), Jamie Brennan; Shane O’Donnell (0-01), Oisin Gallen (0-01), Conor O’Donnell (0-02).
Substitutes: Eoghan Bán Gallagher for McHugh (half-time), Ciaran Thompson (0-02) for Mac Giolla Bríde (half-time), Niall O’Donnell for Doherty (half-time), Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí for McFadden (57), Charles McGuinness for Brennan (57).
Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)
