Galway's Joyce hails 'best display' of his reign

Galway manager Padraic Joyce labelled his side's first-half display the best of his reign as they dismantled promotion rivals Derry, sealing their return to Division 1 at the first attempt.

The top-of-the-table Division 2 clash in Owenbeg - billed beforehand as a promotion showdown between two well-matched, in-form sides - unexpectedly turned into a blowout in favour of the westerners, Galway rattling in three goals in a devastating first-half performance, essentially settling the contest by half-time.

Once again, playing with the breeze in the first half - Joyce admitted his surprise that Derry, after winning the toss, opted to go against it for the first 35 - Galway succeeded in demolishing the home side's kickout, winning numerous turnovers high up the pitch.

With Derry hemmed in and floundering, Matthew Tierney, Damien Comer and Dessie Conneely all plundered first half goals to leave the score at 3-08 to 0-04 at the break.

Tomo Culhane added a fourth soon after the re-start to conclusively kill any notion of a comeback. The rest of the game was a formality, Derry bringing the margin of defeat down somewhat as both sides finished with 13 men, through one red and one black card apiece.

"It was probably one of the best first-half performances I've seen under my watch," Joyce told RTÉ's Sunday Sport afterwards.

"I thought we controlled the game really well. I was a bit surprised that Derry opted to play against the wind in the first half. There was a fairly strong breeze there.

"To get three goals in the first half - 3-08 - it was great scoring. I thought we judged the wind really well. We didn't have any potshots or wild shots at goal. We just worked the ball really well. Lads were really mature.

"Everyone was saying to us this