Tribesmen hand Donegal first defeat after sizzling first-half in Salthill

February 23, 2025

Galway's Shane Walsh with Brendan McCole of Donegal ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Shane Walsh scored 0-11 as Galway ended Donegal’s winning run in the Allianz Football League with a 0-21 to 0-14 victory in Salthill to return to the top of Division 1.

With the wind at their backs at Pearse Stadium, Padraic Joyce’s side blew away the Ulster champions in the first-half as seven two-pointers progressed them towards a 0-17 to 0-1 half-time advantage that would’ve been unthinkable before throw-in.

Walsh had four of the Connacht champions’ two-pointers in the opening half, as they proceeded to crush the visitors who were without Michael Murphy after the 35-year-old made a triumphant return for his county last weekend against Armagh.

A 20-metre free from Conor O’Donnell was all Jim McGuinness’s side registered on the scoreboard during the first 35 minutes, but they would get a couple of two-pointers from Daire O Baoill after the turnaround to eventually get motoring.

The scores of Ciaran Thompson, Oisin Gallen and O Baoill made it 10-point game heading into the closing 13 minutes, but the closing stages would see Galway raising their tally up to 0-21 as Walsh and the excellent John Maher sailed over to help ensure they sit a point ahead of Donegal and Dublin heading into Round 5 next weekend.


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